New Delhi/Jerusalem/Dubai/Washington, Oct 1: Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu after he reportedly fought off his co-pilot, who attempted to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flydubai flight, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Modi praises pilot’s courage
Prime Minister Modi praised Machchhar for his courage in confronting the alleged attack despite being seriously injured, saying his actions helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy.
“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi said in a post on X, adding that India was proud of the pilot’s valour. He also expressed hope for Machchhar’s speedy recovery and good health.
Netanyahu calls Machchhar a ‘true hero’
Netanyahu also described Machchhar as a “true hero”, saying the Indian pilot was stabbed and seriously injured but fought back, resisted and opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the alleged attacker.
According to Netanyahu, Machchhar’s actions helped save the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and passengers of other nationalities.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia and was receiving medical treatment. His condition was reported to be stable, although a full update on his health was awaited.
Flydubai flight makes emergency landing
The flydubai flight, FZ1073, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it transmitted emergency signals and made a sharp descent before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Tabuk on Wednesday.
The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an in-flight “altercation” and was safely diverted to Tabuk, where all passengers and crew were accounted for.
The airline said it was cooperating with authorities and cautioned against premature speculation, saying the underlying reasons and motives behind the incident remained unknown and were subject to a formal investigation.
Passengers help overpower alleged attacker
Israeli authorities had feared a possible hijacking and scrambled Israeli Air Force fighter jets following the incident.
Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft with passengers on board. He said an Israeli passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit and overpower the attacker, while another crew member subsequently helped stabilise the aircraft.
The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and the passengers later returned to Tel Aviv on a flydubai rescue flight.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as a terrorist attack attempt, while Israeli Opposition leader Yair Lapid said an earlier warning about increased terrorist activity abroad was unrelated to the incident.
Aircraft plunged more than 17,000 feet
Video clips circulated on social media showed passengers moving towards the front of the aircraft amid confusion and alarm. BBC Verify reported that the aircraft’s layout and design were consistent with a flydubai Boeing 737 MAX.
Flight-tracking data analysed by BBC Verify showed the aircraft cruising at about 34,000 feet before descending more than 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. The aircraft subsequently transmitted emergency signals, including a code indicating possible unlawful interference.
Several passengers described a chaotic scene inside the aircraft. One passenger said the aircraft began spinning and descending rapidly before passengers intervened.
Trump also hails Indian pilot
US President Donald Trump also praised Machchhar as a hero while recounting details of the incident that he said he had received from Netanyahu and other sources.
Trump said Machchhar had been seriously injured after being stabbed but managed to open the cockpit door and call for help. He also described the intervention of an Israeli passenger who entered the cockpit and helped overpower the alleged attacker.
However, Trump cautioned that he was recounting an account he had received and had not independently confirmed all the details.
Alleged attacker arrested
The pilot accused of carrying out the stabbing, whom Netanyahu said was believed to be an Omani national, was arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
The incident remains under investigation.
