Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with flydubai, has been credited by Israeli officials with helping avert a major mid-air disaster after a violent altercation erupted in the cockpit of flight FZ1073. The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the captain was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot. The Boeing 737 flight was carrying more than 170 passengers. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. Despite being injured, Machchhar is reported to have opened the cockpit door, allowing a crew member and passengers to enter and restrain the other pilot. The aircraft experienced a sharp loss of altitude during the struggle before control was restored. It was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All passengers were reported safe, while both pilots were taken for medical treatment. India’s embassy in Riyadh later said Machchhar was in stable condition. Machchhar has been flying with flydubai since June 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile, after spending more than a decade with Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet. Reports citing his professional profile say he has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and has accumulated nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft. Before joining flydubai, Machchhar served in several roles at SpiceJet, including as a line-training captain and senior commander. He joined the airline in 2011 and moved to flydubai as a direct-entry captain in 2022. According to accounts of his career, Machchhar initially pursued studies connected to his family’s textile business before deciding to enter aviation. He has spoken in a podcast about discovering his interest in flying while attending an aviation-related seminar during a management course. He subsequently underwent pilot training in New Zealand. In the podcast, Machchhar recalled that his training cost around Rs 16-17 lakh and that his mother was initially worried about his decision to pursue aviation, while his father was more accepting of the career choice. The incident aboard FZ1073 took place while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. Flydubai confirmed that an incident occurred on the flight deck and that the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The airline has said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended while the incident is investigated. Netanyahu also praised Machchhar and the passengers and crew members who intervened during the cockpit struggle. However, details surrounding the incident, including the motive of the other pilot and the precise sequence of events, remain under investigation. Flydubai has urged against speculation before the inquiry is completed. The passengers were later transported to Israel after the emergency diversion, while authorities continued investigating the incident. Several foreign envoys and diplomatic missions in India lauded Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage that averted a major tragedy and saved hundreds of lives midair. The remarks came amid growing international recognition of Captain Machchhar’s role in averting the threat aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073. During the incident, the co-pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar and the aircraft began to plummet. The Indian fought the assailant bravely and opened the cockpit door, following which passengers rushed to assist, entered the cockpit, and overpowered the attacker. Once the attacker was subdued, the seriously wounded Indian pilot was stabilised until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, also praised the Indian pilot for his “extraordinary courage” and “presence of mind” in helping save the lives of passengers and crew. Meanwhile, the Israeli Embassy in India also expressed its gratitude to Captain Machchhar, praising his bravery and role in saving several lives, including Israeli passengers aboard the flight. The bravery of Captain Smit Machchhar and others in a moment of danger reminds us of the deep bond between our peoples – built on courage, solidarity, and a shared belief in the strength of humanity. His bravery is a powerful reminder that the India–Israel friendship is built not only between nations, but between people who stand by one another when it matters most.
Captain Smit Machchhar: The Hero Indian Pilot
