Indian Pilot Hailed as Hero After Stabbing Incident on FlyDubai Flight to Israel

Indian airline captain Smit Machchhar saved 174 lives after a cockpit stabbing on a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel, with world leaders praising his bravery.

Editorial Desk

October 1, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — New Delhi, India — An Indian airline captain has been hailed as a hero after he prevented a potential disaster when a copilot stabbed him during a flight to Israel, according to reports.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, who was piloting a FlyDubai Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers from Dubai, was seriously injured when the co-pilot attacked him in what appeared to be an attempt to crash the plane. Passengers intervened and restrained the attacker, allowing the flight to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

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Machchhar’s actions have drawn praise from world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called him a hero for his courage in protecting the lives of others. The attack also triggered a major security response in Israel, with authorities scrambling fighter jets in case of a possible hijacking.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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