Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot injured in an alleged cockpit attack on Flydubai flight FZ1073, has received public praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump after passengers and crew helped restrain the alleged attacker and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu described Machchhar as a “true hero” and said the captain continued to resist after being stabbed and seriously injured. According to the Israeli prime minister, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker.
Trump also praised the pilot during remarks recalling a conversation with Netanyahu. He said Machchhar was in very poor condition but had acted with good judgment and was, in a sense, a hero.
What happened aboard flight FZ1073
The incident took place inside the cockpit of a Boeing 737 MAX 8. Israeli officials said the co-pilot attacked the captain with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft. A report identified the co-pilot as an Omani national.
Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft descended by about 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Passengers reportedly heard shouting from the cockpit as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and moved towards the cockpit area.
Israeli passenger Yaniv later recounted the incident to Netanyahu after returning to Israel. According to that account, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing. Passengers and a crew member then entered the cockpit and saw the co-pilot attempting to damage the aircraft's systems.
Other pilots travelling on the aircraft took control, stabilised the plane and brought it down safely in Tabuk. Accounts in the report differ on the number of people aboard or protected during the incident: figures cited include more than 170 passengers and crew, 174 people, 180 people and nearly 200 people.
Praise for the Indian captain
Netanyahu said Machchhar's actions helped prevent a catastrophic mid-air incident. In a message dated September 30, 2026, he said the captain's bravery helped passengers and crew overpower the attacker and referred to the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and people from other countries.
India's government also praised Machchhar, saying that despite his injuries he helped subdue the attacker and saved 174 lives. Israel's Foreign Ministry described the episode as an example of courage involving Indian, Israeli and Emirati people from different countries.
Israel's ambassador in India called Machchhar an experienced and capable hero. The Israeli Airline Pilots Association thanked the Flydubai captain and the crew of the relief flight for helping the passengers.
Israeli politician and former police officer Almog Cohen also praised Machchhar. Cohen said the captain's resourcefulness helped unlock the cockpit door and gave Israeli passengers access to the person who had placed the aircraft's occupants at risk. Cohen said he would introduce a bill at the next Knesset session to name a lounge at Ben Gurion Airport after Machchhar.
Machchhar's condition and career
Machchhar is being treated at a hospital in Tabuk. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Indian Consulate in Jeddah are monitoring his condition, which officials described as stable while detailed medical information remained awaited. Indian officials said they were in contact with his family and coordinating with Saudi authorities.
Machchhar is of Gujarati origin and has more than 10 years of experience in commercial aviation. He joined Flydubai as a direct-entry captain in June 2022 after working at SpiceJet from June 2011 to 2022. He is described as a Boeing 737 specialist who placed particular emphasis on safety and regulations and guided other pilots.
He holds a degree in business administration from Welingkar Institute of Management.
Flydubai suspends Israel flights
Flydubai said its flights to and from Israel would remain suspended while the investigation continued. The airline said it was staying in contact with government authorities, regulators and airport-related parties and would review the suspension as more information became available.
Conclusion
Captain Smit Machchhar's actions during the reported cockpit attack have drawn recognition from Israeli, Indian and US figures. The investigation remains ongoing, while his condition is being monitored and Flydubai's Israel flights remain suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian Flydubai pilot of Gujarati origin with more than 10 years of commercial aviation experience.
Q. What happened on Flydubai flight FZ1073?
An alleged attack took place inside the cockpit after the co-pilot reportedly stabbed Machchhar. The captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and restrain the alleged attacker.
Q. Where did the aircraft land?
The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after other pilots took control and stabilised it.
Q. How much altitude did the aircraft lose?
Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft lost about 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Q. What did Benjamin Netanyahu say about the pilot?
Netanyahu called Machchhar a true hero and praised him for resisting after being seriously injured and helping passengers and crew overpower the attacker.
Q. What did Donald Trump say about Machchhar?
Trump said the pilot was in very poor condition but had acted with good judgment and was, in a sense, a hero.
Q. Is Captain Machchhar's condition known?
Indian officials said he was in stable condition while receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk.
Q. Has Flydubai suspended flights to Israel?
Yes. Flydubai said flights to and from Israel would remain suspended while the investigation continued.
