Netanyahu Salutes Indian Pilot Who Helped Save 174 Lives

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has paid tribute to Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, praising his “extraordinary bravery” after he was stabbed during a dramatic mid-air incident aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The incident occurred aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, when Machchhar was allegedly attacked by the co-pilot inside the cockpit. Israeli authorities say the co-pilot attempted to crash the aircraft after stabbing the captain. The precise circumstances and motive remain under investigation.

Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar reportedly fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and overpower the alleged attacker.

Netanyahu personally praised the Indian captain on Thursday.

“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.

“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”

Netanyahu described Machchhar as a “true hero” and wished him a speedy and full recovery.

The Boeing 737 MAX was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft had undergone a rapid descent of about 14,000 feet during the emergency and transmitted an unlawful-interference transponder code.

Machchhar and the other pilot were taken to hospital following the landing. Reports indicate Machchhar underwent treatment for his injuries and was in a stable condition.

Machchhar is an experienced commercial pilot who has served as a captain with flydubai since 2022. Before joining the Dubai-based airline, he spent around 11 years with India’s SpiceJet and accumulated thousands of hours flying Boeing 737 aircraft.

Flydubai has confirmed that an incident occurred during the flight but has urged against drawing conclusions while the circumstances are investigated. Authorities are continuing inquiries into what led to the extraordinary confrontation inside the cockpit.

The actions of Machchhar, passengers and crew have since drawn international attention for helping prevent what could have become a catastrophic aviation disaster.