Jerusalem, Oct. 1: Israeli leaders have praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery after he fought off his co-pilot during an alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers.
Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured in the cockpit of flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker.
Israeli Leaders Praise Indian Pilot’s Courage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Machchhar as a “true hero” for helping avert a potential aviation disaster.
Netanyahu said the injured captain fought back and opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to restrain the co-pilot. He credited Machchhar with helping save 174 lives and wished him a speedy recovery.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry also praised the Indian captain and the passengers and crew who intervened during the incident. It highlighted the cooperation between Indian, Israeli and Emirati nationals in protecting everyone aboard.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana also praised Machchhar’s courage. He said Israelis were praying for the injured pilot and expressed solidarity with his family.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, described Machchhar as a hero and wished him a full recovery. Former Israeli Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Yossi Zilberman also praised the captain and those who intervened.
Israeli politician Almog Cohen called Machchhar Israel’s “hero of the day”. He said he would propose naming a lounge at Ben Gurion Airport after the Indian pilot.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an alleged terrorist attack attempt. However, the co-pilot’s motive has not been officially established.
The flight transmitted emergency signals after the incident and experienced a sharp loss of altitude. It diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Other qualified pilots subsequently took control of the aircraft.
Saudi authorities took the co-pilot into custody following the emergency landing.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that Machchhar was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk. He was reported to be in stable condition.
The embassy said it was in contact with his family and Saudi authorities and would provide assistance during his recovery.
The incident drew international attention, with leaders praising the captain’s actions and the cooperation of passengers and crew in preventing a potential tragedy.
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