New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Indian Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar after he was seriously injured during an in-flight confrontation with his co-pilot on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, saying the pilot’s actions helped avert a major tragedy.

Machchhar was operating Flydubai flight FZ1073 when an altercation broke out in the cockpit on Wednesday. According to accounts from Israeli officials and reports on the incident, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar with a knife and allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft. Machchhar was injured but managed to fight back and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

In a post on X, Modi described Machchhar as a “hero” and praised his conduct despite his injuries. The Prime Minister said the pilot had shown courage and remained determined to protect the lives of those on board. He also wished Machchhar a speedy recovery and good health.

PM Modi praises Machchhar’s actions

Modi’s remarks came a day after the incident involving the Flydubai Boeing 737. The Prime Minister said Machchhar’s actions helped save hundreds of lives and prevent what could have been a serious aviation disaster.

The Prime Minister’s comments were made while details surrounding the cockpit confrontation were still being investigated. Authorities have not publicly established a final motive for the co-pilot’s actions.

The incident involved a flight carrying passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said passengers and crew helped restrain the co-pilot after Machchhar opened the cockpit door. The aircraft was then diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely in Tabuk.

Captain was injured during cockpit confrontation

According to reports, Machchhar sustained serious injuries during the confrontation. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said he was taken to a hospital in Tabuk and was in stable condition.

Other reports said Machchhar underwent surgery following the incident. Flydubai and Indian authorities were in contact with his family as he received treatment in Saudi Arabia.

The co-pilot was also hospitalised after the incident and was taken into custody by Saudi authorities, according to reports. The circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the co-pilot’s motive remain under investigation.

What happened aboard the Flydubai flight?

Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the cockpit confrontation took place.

Reuters reported that the aircraft descended sharply during the incident, dropping by nearly 14,000 feet in around 30 seconds. Passengers and crew members became involved after the cockpit door was opened, helping to overpower the attacker. Additional pilots who were travelling on the aircraft subsequently helped operate the plane.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The passengers were later able to continue their journey to Israel on another flight.

The incident was initially described by Flydubai as an in-flight altercation. Israeli officials later provided further details about the confrontation and credited the captain, passengers and crew with helping prevent a potentially catastrophic outcome.

174 people were on board

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar following the incident, saying his actions helped save the lives of the people aboard the aircraft.

Reports put the number of people on board at 174 passengers, with the flight carrying Israeli citizens as well as nationals of other countries. Netanyahu said Machchhar had been seriously injured but continued to act during the emergency.

The exact sequence of events inside the cockpit is expected to be examined by Saudi authorities and other relevant aviation and security agencies as part of the investigation.

Reuters reported that the co-pilot was being investigated by Saudi authorities and that the motive behind the incident remained unclear.

Machchhar’s aviation career

Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot from Mumbai who has extensive commercial aviation experience.

According to reports citing his professional profile, Machchhar spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai as a captain in June 2022. Reports have said he has more than 9,500 hours of flying experience, including extensive experience on Boeing 737 aircraft.

He was also reported to have worked as a line training captain, a role involving the training and assessment of pilots during operational flights. His experience became particularly relevant during the emergency, as the aircraft had to be diverted and landed safely following the cockpit confrontation.

Investigation continues into co-pilot’s actions

While Machchhar has received praise from Indian and Israeli leaders, the circumstances behind the incident remain subject to investigation.

Israeli officials have described the co-pilot’s actions as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft, but authorities have not publicly established a final motive. Flydubai has also urged caution around speculation while investigations continue.

The incident has also prompted renewed attention to cockpit security and procedures for dealing with violent incidents involving flight crew. However, investigators will need to establish the precise sequence of events before drawing conclusions about the cause or intent behind the confrontation.

For India, the immediate focus remains on Machchhar’s recovery. Modi said he was praying for the captain’s speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.

The safe landing of the aircraft followed intervention by the injured captain, passengers, crew and additional pilots on board. The investigation will now seek to establish exactly how the confrontation unfolded and what led to the co-pilot’s actions.