NEW DELHI — Indian pilot Smit Machchhar is being hailed as a hero after helping prevent a possible mid-air disaster aboard a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia on September 30 after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar inside the cockpit and appeared to attempt to take control of the aircraft. Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to activate the cockpit-door release, enabling passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attacker. The aircraft later landed safely with 174 people on board.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar’s “immense courage” and “unwavering resolve” to protect the lives of others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described him as a “true hero.” The injured captain is recovering in a hospital in Tabuk, while the suspected attacker has been detained as authorities investigate the incident and its motive.
Machchhar, a Mumbai native, did not originally plan to become a pilot. After school, he studied textile engineering with the intention of joining his family’s textile business, and later pursued management studies at Mumbai’s Welingkar Institute of Management.
His career changed at the age of 19 when he attended an aviation seminar and developed an interest in flying. Although his mother was initially worried about his decision, Machchhar later trained in New Zealand and joined SpiceJet. He spent more than a decade with the Indian airline before joining flydubai in 2022.
A veteran Boeing 737 captain, Machchhar has accumulated nearly 9,750 flying hours during a career spanning about 15 years. At SpiceJet, he also served as a line training captain, mentoring younger pilots.
In a 2025 interview, Machchhar said he believed passenger safety should always come before concerns about delays. “As long as you’re walking out of the aircraft, that is what I want,” he said.
Away from the cockpit, he preferred to keep aviation out of his personal life. “When you walk out of the cockpit, that’s it,” he said, explaining that his focus then shifted to his family and children. His actions during the emergency, however, have placed him at the centre of international attention.