JOHANNESBURG: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero after allegedly being attacked by his co pilot while flying a Flydubai aircraft from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with passengers and officials crediting his actions with helping prevent a potentially serious aviation disaster.
Machchhar, who was injured during the incident, was initially treated in Saudi Arabia after the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk. He was later transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical attention, with India’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates saying he was in “good health and recovering well”.
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073. According to Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry, preliminary investigations found that the co pilot assaulted the captain, resulting in injuries to both men. The two were taken to hospital after the emergency landing before later travelling to Abu Dhabi under the escort of a UAE security team.
The airline said all passengers were safe. Media reports indicated that 166 of the 174 passengers on board were Israeli citizens. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of Machchhar’s injuries or the weapon allegedly used in the confrontation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Machchhar had been moved to Abu Dhabi for continued “medical attention”. The ministry said India’s ambassador to the UAE met the captain in hospital after also meeting his family and offering support.
“Our Ambassador in UAE met Captain Machchhar in hospital and enquired about his well-being. Earlier, he also met his family and assured all possible support for the captain’s health and well-being,” the ministry said.
The Indian embassy in the UAE later said Ambassador Deepak Mittal had met Machchhar and his family at the hospital.
“Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well,” the embassy wrote on X.
The incident has drawn praise from Machchhar’s friends and neighbours in Mumbai, where his parents live. They described the pilot, who is in his 30s and has more than a decade of flying experience, as calm, helpful and soft spoken.
Akshay Doshi, who has known Machchhar for about 15 years and lives next door to his parents, said the pilot’s response under pressure was consistent with the personality he had known for years.
“We did not expect any less from him – it did not come as a surprise,” Doshi said.
Neighbour Laxmikant Joshi said the community was proud of Machchhar’s courage.
“We are proud of him for his nature, for his bravery,” Joshi told AFP.
“He saved lives when he was in danger. And in the air when he was controlling the plane and suffering injuries!”
Another longtime friend, Pratik Gandhi, recalled that Machchhar had remained composed from childhood.
“We have done all the mischief which is done by small kids. During that time he was always very calm,” Gandhi said. “The same quality he has been bringing to his adult life.”
Bhavesh Shah, another neighbour, said Machchhar regularly returned to the family home in Tilak Nagar and was known for helping people in the neighbourhood.
“Every time somebody wants help here, he helps them. His nature is very good,” Shah said. “We are praying for him – we have received the message that he is stable.”
The pilot has previously spoken about the pressure that comes with being responsible for passengers’ lives. His route into aviation was not originally planned, as he was studying management with the intention of helping his family’s textile business when he attended an aviation seminar and developed what he later called the “aviation bug”.
Machchhar recalled in a 2025 podcast that his first commercial flight was “scary” because of the responsibility involved in carrying passengers.
He later learned to manage the pressure.
“Stressing is not going to help – at least in this industry,” he said.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft and has worked for Dubai based Flydubai since 2022. He previously worked for Indian airline SpiceJet.
“You are a hero to us all, Captain,” SpiceJet said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar, saying his actions helped protect passengers and prevent what he described as “a great tragedy”.
“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi said in a social media post.
“In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.”
Speaking in New Delhi, Modi said he had spoken to Machchhar’s wife, mother and father.
“This valour by Smit fills us with pride … He is currently undergoing treatment,” he said.
“Today, the entire world is proud of him. I urge my fellow citizens to pray for Smit’s long life and excellent health, and to salute Smit, who has brought glory to India.”
India’s President Droupadi Murmu also praised the pilot, saying the country was proud of his conduct during the incident.
“I salute his indomitable spirit,” she said. “I pray for his speedy recovery and good health.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Machchhar’s actions as “extraordinary bravery”, saying he fought back despite being wounded and helped prevent a catastrophic incident in the air.
The attack also prompted a wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the identity and possible motive of the accused co pilot.
The suspect has not been publicly identified. Israeli authorities said he is an Omani national, while Netanyahu said the suspect “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination”. US President Donald Trump separately suggested that the accused pilot could be linked to Iran, although he provided no evidence or details to support the claim.
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes,” Trump said when asked whether the accused pilot could be linked to Iran. “But we’re working on it right now.”
When asked whether the pilot could have been placed on the flight by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or radicalised through another route, Trump replied, “Could be. Could be.”
Saudi authorities said the accused pilot was transferred to Abu Dhabi after being medically cleared to travel. Both the suspect and Machchhar had initially received treatment in Saudi Arabia following the emergency landing.
The Saudi Interior Ministry said its preliminary investigation, conducted with the participation of a UAE security team, had “revealed an assault on the captain by the co-pilot, resulting in various injuries to both.”
The ministry said the movement of the two men followed medical clearance and was carried out with an Emirati security team. It also said Saudi Arabia deals with emergency situations according to its international and humanitarian obligations and regulations governing “the safety and security of air navigation”.
Video footage released after the incident showed passengers and crew members entering the cockpit as they attempted to regain control of the aircraft. One cabin crew member could be heard instructing passengers to sit down while another person called for medical assistance.
One person was heard saying, “We need a pilot,” as cabin crew members worked to access a first aid kit.
The motive for the alleged attack remains under investigation, while authorities have yet to disclose what weapon was allegedly used or whether any security or vetting procedures failed.
Machchhar’s ordeal has prompted tributes across India. Artists in the country created a sand sculpture on Puri beach to honour the Mumbai born pilot.
Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik told Reuters the sculpture was created to recognise Machchhar’s actions.
“Everybody is saluting him for his work, his courage.”
Machchhar’s parents travelled to the Gulf to be with him during his recovery, according to the Mumbai Mirror, which described him as a “Superhero in the sky”.
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