Indian Pilot Hailed as Hero After Foiling Alleged Hijacking Attempt on Israel-Bound Flight
Captain Smit Machchhar subdued a co-pilot who allegedly stabbed him and attempted to crash the Flydubai aircraft.
An Indian pilot has been lauded as a hero for his actions during an incident on a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, during which he was stabbed by a co-pilot who then allegedly attempted to crash the plane. Captain Smit Machchhar, an experienced pilot with over 9,750 flying hours, is credited with saving the lives of the more than 150 people on board Flight FZ1073.
The aircraft departed from Dubai International Airport early Wednesday, en route to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Approximately two and a half hours into the flight, over Saudi Arabia, the plane began a rapid descent. Data from flight tracking services indicated a drop of over 17,000 feet in less than two minutes.
During the descent, the plane initially signaled emergency code squawk 7700, which denotes an emergency, before switching to squawk 7500, indicating a hijacking. The aircraft briefly entered Jordanian airspace before looping back into Saudi Arabia, where it eventually began a manual descent for landing.
Sources initially suggested a fight between pilots, but later reports, confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed that one pilot had stabbed the other before attempting to crash the aircraft. Netanyahu stated that an Israeli passenger and a crew member intervened by breaking into the cockpit and overpowering the co-pilot.
The flight was diverted to Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia, landing shortly before 7 a.m. local time. Captain Machchhar, who was stabbed, is reported to be in stable condition, according to the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Captain Machchhar, originally from Mumbai, joined Flydubai in 2022 after a tenure with SpiceJet, where he began his career in 2011. A former employer, SpiceJet, referred to him as a "hero" in a statement. He previously shared his passion for aviation in a podcast, emphasizing the importance of a healthy work-life balance and crediting senior pilots for his ability to handle stressful situations.
He had previously spoken about facing challenges in the air, including medical emergencies and minor aircraft issues. At the time of those past discussions, he noted that no plane he had captained had been forced to make an emergency landing, and he prioritized the safety of passengers above flight delays. "As long as you're walking out of the aircraft [safely], that's what I want," he had stated.
Following the emergence of his identity, Captain Machchhar has received widespread praise on Indian social media, with many commenters echoing the sentiment that he is a hero. Viral snippets from his past podcast appearances have also circulated.