Netanyahu Praises Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Saving 174 Lives
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on September 30, 2026, for extraordinary bravery in saving 174 people aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after a co-pilot launched a mid-air knife attack.
A Deadly Cockpit Struggle Over the Middle East
Captain Machchhar sustained serious stab wounds when his co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operating Flydubai flight FZ1073. Despite his injuries, Machchhar fought back, resisted the attacker, opened the cockpit door, and allowed passengers and crew to overpower the assailant before the plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning.
Flight Diversion and Immediate Arrest in Tabuk
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 confirmed the aircraft’s route and emergency diversion. The airline deployed a rescue flight to transport all passengers from Tabuk to their final destination at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, where they landed at 15:34 GMT.
The attacker, whose identity remains undisclosed, was arrested after the flight touched down in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu Salutes the Hero Pilot
Prime Minister Netanyahu took to his official X account on Wednesday evening to salute the pilot. Netanyahu stated that Machchhar prevented a catastrophic mid-air disaster, saved the lives of Israeli citizens and other nationals on board, and wished him a speedy recovery.
Hospitalization in Saudi Arabia
India’s embassy in Riyadh confirmed in an X post that Captain Machchhar was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk city to receive necessary medical attention. The embassy noted that he was reported to be in stable condition while officials awaited a full medical update.
Political Fallout at Ben Gurion Airport
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, the returning passengers were received by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The reception drew political criticism from Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, who characterized the airport greeting as cheap politics during the run-up to elections scheduled for that month.