Capt Smit Machchhar, an Indian commercial pilot, survived a stabbing on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv and was hailed as a hero by leaders worldwide.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when Machchhar was attacked by another pilot aboard flight FZ1073. Flight‑tracking data and cockpit recordings show the aircraft making a rapid descent over Saudi Arabia, switching emergency codes, and then turning back into Saudi airspace before landing at Tabuk Airport.
Because of the assault, the crew immediately opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to break in and subdue the assailant. The plane diverted to Tabuk, where Machchhar was taken to a hospital in a stable condition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited the captain with preventing a mid‑air disaster, saying he "saved the lives of 174 people." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister J. S. Jaishankar praised his courage, while U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the pilot’s actions during the attack in a statement to reporters at the White House.
Machchhar logged more than 9,750 flight hours, including over 6,400 as pilot‑in‑command. He joined SpiceJet in 2012 and Flydubai in 2022, building a reputation for calm performance under high‑stress situations.
Accounts from the flight crew and passengers describe a tense moment in the cockpit, with the pilot remaining composed despite severe personal harm. The event has sparked calls for renewed scrutiny of cockpit security protocols on international flights.
