Invincible Indianness

October 3, 2026

~Abhishek Vij

Indian pilot Smit Machar averted a tragedy with his bravery in such a way that the lives of 174 passengers including 27 children were saved. 150 of these passengers were from Israel. There was panic in the FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Israel’s capital Tel Aviv when the co-pilot of Indian pilot Smit Machar attacked him with a knife. The other pilot is of Omani origin who, as part of a conspiracy, tried to crash the plane mid-air after a flight of two and a half hours. Had Indian pilot Smit Machar not grappled with the attacking co-pilot, a tragedy similar to the 9/11 tragedy in America might not have occurred. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu saluted the bravery of the Indian pilot and other rescue crew members, calling them national heroes. Indian pilot Smit Machar served for 11 years at SpiceJet and has 9,500 hours of flight experience, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. Using his commanding presence of mind, he saved the flight and the precious lives of the passengers, earning him worldwide praise for his bravery. US President Donald Trump also praised him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu, and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan praised the Indian pilot and wished him a speedy recovery. The incident unfolded as follows: A FlyDubai passenger plane took off from Dubai for Tel Aviv at 6:05 a.m. He was accompanied by an Omani co-pilot. After the plane had been flying for two and a half hours, the co-pilot stabbed Smit with a knife, threatening to cause the plane to dive and crash. However, Smit defied the terrorist pilot, bravely confronting him, and opening the cockpit door. He then sent an emergency message. The plane changed course and entered Jordanian airspace. After the cockpit was opened, some passengers and an air marshal, witnessing a fight, entered the cockpit and overpowered the terrorist co-pilot. Meanwhile, the plane plummeted to approximately 17,000 feet, but an off-duty pilot was also on board, who immediately took control of the cockpit. Upon receiving the information, the Israeli Defense Minister sent the plane through Jordanian and Saudi Arabian airspace to escort it. Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia was nearby, and the plane landed safely there. The frightened passengers were transported to Tel Aviv, Israel. The Indian pilot, Smit Machar, who was injured in the battle, was sent to a hospital for treatment, and the terrorist pilot was taken into custody in Saudi Arabia. News spread worldwide that an Indian pilot had heroically thwarted an attempt to crash an Israeli plane carrying passengers. This incident raises some questions. First, how did the co-pilot, who held a legitimate responsibility, get into the cockpit to fly an airplane with a weapon? Second, how did such a major security lapse occur in an area where there is a constant fear of terrorist attacks? Who is responsible? This question demands an answer. Obviously, the entire incident will be resolved only after the investigation is complete, but it can certainly be said that this sense of duty of Indian pilots not only brings them fame but also makes Indians proud.