Indian pilot saves 174 passengers after being stabbed on flight to Israel

Thu Oct 01 2026 16:28:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Capt Smit Machchhar was attacked mid‑flight on a Flydubai jet. Indian and Israeli leaders hailed his courage as he recovers in Saudi Arabia.

Indian commercial pilot Capt Smit Machchhar was stabbed by a fellow pilot aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 bound for Tel Aviv. The attack forced the aircraft to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia where the captain was treated and remains stable. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the pilot’s calmness and said he saved 174 lives, while Indian leaders called him a hero. The incident has sparked calls for tighter security on international flights.

Who is the ’hero’ Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel‑bound flight?

The pilot who was stabbed on an Israel‑bound flight on Wednesday has been identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar. Capt Machchhar was attacked by another pilot aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia.

The captain, who has been hailed as a “true hero” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was taken to a hospital in Tabuk, a city in north‑western Saudi Arabia, where he remains in a stable condition according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh.

Netanyahu wrote on X that Capt Machchhar “saved the lives of 174 people” and prevented a catastrophic mid‑air disaster.

Background of the pilot

Machchhar grew up in Mumbai and joined Mainland Air, an aviation college in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 2008. He became a commercial pilot with SpiceJet in 2011 and joined Flydubai in 2022 after moving to Dubai.

He has logged more than 9,750 flying hours, including over 6,400 as pilot‑in‑command. His former colleagues describe him as calm under pressure and respectful of safety protocols.

The attack and diversion

Flydubai flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT. After roughly two and a half hours, the aircraft experienced a rapid descent over Saudi airspace, dropping more than 17,000 feet in less than two minutes.

The cockpit alarmed with a squawk 7700, then changed to 7500, indicating a hijack. The plane returned to Saudi airspace, performed a manual descent, and landed at Tabuk Airport at 06:58 GMT. Passengers and crew reported a violent altercation between two pilots, with a third passenger and crew member breaking into the cockpit and overpowering the attacker.

Reactions from leaders

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi added that Machchhar showed “immense courage” and an “unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.”

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar praised the pilot’s “extraordinary courage and remarkable presence of mind, even in the face of grave danger”.

US President Donald Trump said the pilot was in very bad shape but had the sense to open the cockpit door during the attack, noting how the pilot “was able to fall back and get the door open.”

Public response

The Indian public and social media communities have praised Captain Machchhar as a hero, sharing snippets of his aviation podcast where he speaks about calmness and teamwork.

The incident underscores the need for enhanced security on international flights and has prompted discussions on procedural changes for cockpit access.