Captain Smit Machchhar is ‘true hero’: Netanyahu hails pilot after flydubai mid-air attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Captain Smit Machchhar for his “unbelievable courage” after he was seriously injured in an alleged attack inside the cockpit of an Israel-bound flydubai flight, saying his actions helped avert a major disaster and save lives.

In a post on X, Netanyahu praised Machchhar's as 'true hero' and wished him a speedy recovery. He said the Indian captain's actions helped save the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.

Also read: 'Captain Smit Machchhar is a hero': PM Modi hails former pilot SpiceJet pilot aboard Flydubai flight


"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero," he said.

Netanyahu, speaking to Fox News, recounted how Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door despite being badly wounded as the aircraft went into a nosedive. His action allowed passengers and crew to enter the cockpit and overpower the attacker, enabling the aircraft to be stabilised and safely landed in Saudi Arabia.

The flight, flydubai Flight FZ1073, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an altercation occurred in the flight deck. Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, who attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Describing Machchhar's actions, Netanyahu said the Indian pilot was “very badly wounded” but still managed to unlock the cockpit door. He called the incident an “amazing act of heroism” involving Machchhar, Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun and others who intervened to stop the attacker.

The Israeli leader also said the actions of those on board prevented what he described as a possible “another 9/11”, noting that passengers believed the aircraft was going to crash as it plunged.

Also read: A fight in the cockpit, a plunge from 33,000 feet: Inside the FlyDubai mid-air crisis

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also hailed Machchhar as a hero, saying he fought back after being stabbed and unlocked the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers and Emirati crew members to intervene and save those on board.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, praised Machchhar, calling him a “HERO” and saying his courage and resolve helped avert a major tragedy.

Machchhar is a commercial pilot with more than 13 years of aviation experience and around 9,750 flying hours. He currently serves as a direct-entry captain with UAE-based flydubai and previously spent 11 years with SpiceJet, where he was a Line Training Captain.