Indian airline captain Smit Machchhar has been hailed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he was seriously injured in a stabbing incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar, the captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073, was reportedly stabbed by the first officer during the flight on Wednesday as the aircraft was travelling towards Israel.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar is credited with opening the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and help overpower the attacker.
Netanyahu praised the Indian pilot for what he described as “extraordinary bravery”, saying his actions helped prevent a potentially catastrophic incident.
“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.
“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.”
According to accounts cited by Israeli and international media, the aircraft experienced a sudden and significant loss of altitude approximately two and a half hours after departing Dubai.
Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 737-8 aircraft dropping more than 17,000 feet before declaring an emergency and later signalling a potential hijacking.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Israeli officials said one pilot had stabbed the other and that the attacker subsequently appeared to attempt to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. The precise circumstances and motive remain subject to investigation.
Flydubai said an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and that the aircraft was “successfully secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight”.
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, said Machchhar used his remaining strength to release the cockpit door.
“The last moments of his energy, he used to click open the release on the door,” Spielman told Reuters.
Passengers then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the attacker.
Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun said he and others had attempted to gain access to the cockpit after realising something was seriously wrong.
According to an account released by Netanyahu’s office, Hayun said Machchhar was close to the cockpit door and managed to open it before collapsing.
Hayun then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the attacker, who he said appeared to be interfering with the aircraft’s controls.
Other passengers and crew subsequently helped secure the suspect.
The aircraft was eventually landed safely at Tabuk Airport, where both injured pilots were taken for medical treatment.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was in a stable condition.
Machchhar is an experienced commercial pilot with nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience.
He previously spent around 11 years flying for Indian airline SpiceJet before joining Dubai-based Flydubai in 2022.
His actions have since drawn widespread attention in India and Israel, with Netanyahu publicly recognising the Indian captain’s role in preventing the situation from escalating.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an “attempted jihadist terror attack”. However, the motive and circumstances remain under formal investigation, and Flydubai has urged against premature speculation.
“The underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation.”
Flydubai sent replacement aircraft to Tabuk to transport the passengers and crew onwards to Israel.
The passengers eventually arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, where relatives and officials gathered to meet them.
The incident has prompted investigations by authorities in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the airline.
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