Captain Smit Machchhar Hailed as Hero After Thwarting Mid-Air Flydubai Hijack Attempt
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is being celebrated for saving over 170 lives after fighting off a violent cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight to Israel.
POLICY WIRE — Mumbai, India — Captain Smit Machchhar is being celebrated globally as a hero after successfully thwarting a violent mid-air attack by his copilot aboard a Flydubai flight. The aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 passengers toward Tel Aviv, faced a near-catastrophic situation when the assailant attempted to seize control of the plane.
During the struggle, Machchhar sustained severe stab wounds while attempting to neutralize the threat. His efforts allowed the cockpit door to be breached, enabling passengers to intervene, subdue the attacker, and stabilize the flight, which had plummeted 17,400 feet in under 120 seconds.
The flight was eventually diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely under the guidance of two standby pilots who were traveling as passengers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the pilot’s actions, stating that his bravery managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster.
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Machchhar is currently in stable condition at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh. Dentist Shota Musaev, a passenger who provided emergency medical aid, noted that the pilot had suffered massive blood loss and was severely wounded, adding that he likely would not have survived if the intervention had been delayed by even a few moments.
Reflecting on his career in a 2025 podcast appearance, Machchhar described his profession as a blessing. Before joining Flydubai, he spent 11 years with the Indian carrier SpiceJet, rising to the rank of Senior Commander, and trained as a pilot in Dunedin, New Zealand, where former instructor Philip Kean remembered him as a jovial and hardworking student.
The pilot’s former neighbor in Mumbai, Jinat Shah, described him as a kind-hearted and talented individual. As news of the incident spread, Machchhar has been widely lauded in both India and Israel, with media outlets highlighting his decisive actions as the sole reason the 166 Israeli passengers were able to return home safely.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
