India's PM Praises FlyDubai Pilot's 'Highest Form of Courage' After Mid-Flight Stabbing

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, for his "highest form of courage" after Machchhar was stabbed in the cockpit during a flight bound for Israel. The incident occurred on Wednesday, leading to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Modi stated that Machchhar, "without fearing for his own life," fought valiantly and prevented what could have been another 9/11-like attack. India is praying for Machchhar's well-being, and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that the pilot was in stable condition after receiving medical attention.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door despite his severe injuries, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and subdue the co-pilot. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon characterized the event as a terror attack by a radical individual, suggesting the intention was to bring the plane down.

President Donald Trump commented on the incident, stating that the co-pilot was "perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job" and had stabbed the pilot. Following the emergency landing, another FlyDubai aircraft was dispatched to transport the 174 passengers to their intended destination in Tel Aviv.

Machchhar, who has about four years of experience with FlyDubai, previously spent 11 years with Indian carrier SpiceJet, where he accumulated over 9,750 flying hours. SpiceJet praised Machchhar's "heroic courage" and "selfless actions." He trained as a pilot in Dunedin, New Zealand, and is married with two children.

Eyewitnesses reported that Machchhar prayed throughout the ordeal and managed to open the cockpit door to allow passengers to confront the assailant. A dentist and eyewitness, Shota Musayev, treated Machchhar at the scene.