Indian captain stabbed on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight is "safe" in Saudi hospital, government says
Captain Smit Machchhar, who grew up in Mumbai, was attacked by his co-pilot on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which diverted to Tabuk. Leaders in India and Israel have credited him with saving everyone on board.
The Indian pilot who was stabbed on board an Israel-bound Flydubai flight on Wednesday is gravely injured but safe and receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, India's Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing the aircraft to divert and land at Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia. "We salute the bravery of Captain Smit Machchhar, who, in spite of being gravely injured, showed remarkable courage that saved the lives of many," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
What happened on board
According to the BBC, the flight took off from Dubai International Airport at 07:05 local time (08:35 IST) carrying at least 150 people. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the plane descending more than 17,000 feet in under two minutes over Saudi Arabia about two and a half hours into the journey.
Minutes later, the crew transmitted the general emergency code 7700, then switched to 7500, the code for unlawful interference or hijacking. The aircraft briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning back into Saudi Arabia, where it began a manual descent. Less than an hour later, it returned to the 7700 code and landed safely at Tabuk.
The Indian Express reported that Captain Machchhar intervened after the co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly tried to bring the aircraft down. The motive has not been established, and the allegations against the co-pilot have not been tested in any court.
Different figures have been given for the number on board. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the captain "saved the lives of 174 people", while Israel's ambassador in New Delhi, Reuven Azar, spoke of 180 lives. Mr. Netanyahu said almost all the passengers were Israeli.
Who is Smit Machchhar
Captain Machchhar grew up in Mumbai, where his parents still live. He joined the Indian airline SpiceJet in 2011 and moved to Flydubai in 2022. His LinkedIn profile lists more than 9,750 flying hours, over 6,400 of them as pilot-in-command. SpiceJet has called him a hero who saved countless lives.
On a podcast last year, he said flying had "never" been a childhood dream. He was about 19 and studying management, intending to join the family business, when he attended an aviation seminar and "the bug bit" him. He spoke of being "no-nonsense" in uniform, of learning from senior pilots how to handle stress, and of a flight on which a passenger went into early labour and the crew helped deliver the baby safely. His advice to younger pilots: give personal life equal importance, because "it will help you fly longer."
Reactions
President Droupadi Murmu praised his "heroic courage and incredible presence of mind". Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had shown "immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others" despite serious injuries. Mr. Modi also told an event marking the UPSC centenary that he had spoken to the captain's father, mother and sister.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said a full health update was awaited but that he was reported to be stable, and that it was in touch with his family and the Saudi authorities.
This is a developing story. The Justice will update it as official information on the investigation becomes available.