Indian pride swells as flydubai pilot who saved 174 lives hailed as ‘absolute hero’

An Indian pilot’s extraordinary bravery during an apparent mid-air hijack attempt has ignited a wave of national pride, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing the pilot as a hero for saving 174 lives on a flydubai plane – adding a dramatic chapter to a career that began almost by chance.

Captain Smit Machchhar was critically injured after taking the brunt of a knife attack on Wednesday, but managed to open the cockpit door so crew and passengers could overpower the attacker.

“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO. In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” Modi wrote on social media on Thursday morning.

“India is proud of Captain Machchhar. Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.”

Modi joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in praising the pilot. The Israeli leader singled out Machchhar for acting with “extraordinary bravery”.

“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker – preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu said.

Social media users across India rushed to embrace their countryman as a hero.

“This dude is an absolute hero. Saved everyone on that plane,” one wrote.

Another, referencing India’s thriving Bollywood film industry, posted: “Indians will make a movie on this now, starring Akshay Kumar as the hero.”

Machchhar was also praised in New Zealand, where he trained for 18 months. Philip Kean, an instructor at Mainland Air, told the RNZ radio station he was “really pleased” with how his former pupil “handled the situation, the best way he could with a knife in his side”.

Flight FZ1073 was about two and a half hours into a routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when Machchhar’s Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife and tried to crash the Boeing 737 Max 8, according to news agency reports. Flight tracking data recorded the aircraft dropped 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds during the struggle for control.

Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia told state-run broadcaster Al-Ekhbariya that it received a distress call at 8.44am local time requesting an emergency landing. The plane touched down about an hour later, landed safely by two crew members who were travelling as passengers.

Machchhar was taken to hospital in Tabuk city where he underwent surgery, according to the Hindustan Times. He is currently in a stable condition.

“We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his well-being,” the Indian embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.

Machchhar, who comes from Ghatkopar East in Mumbai, was living in Dubai for work, according to the Hindustan Times. His parents have left Mumbai to look after him.

His LinkedIn profile shows he has been with flydubai for four years, following a decade with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier. He has logged over 9,750 flying hours and has over 13 years of experience piloting the Boeing 737 fleet. His brother was also a pilot with the Emirati budget airline, Indian network NDTV reported.

Machchhar originally studied management to run his family’s textile business before a chance seminar redirected his career into aviation.

In a YouTube interview with host Zalak Mehta last October, Machchhar reflected on his unexpected transition into flying as a 19-year-old.

“I attended an aviation seminar, where I first thought about becoming a pilot,” he said, recalling that his mother was initially scared of his career choice. His first commercial flight, he remembered, “was from Bengaluru to Delhi”.

He is careful, though, to keep flying separate from his personal life.

“When I get out of the cockpit or the aircraft, I don’t want the other guy to know that I’m a pilot. I don’t want to discuss aviation,” he said. “When I wear the uniform, then no nonsense and just do your job, finish the job. When you walk out of the cockpit, that’s it. Stop thinking about that. Someone else needs you now. The kids are there. They want to play with you.”

The underlying motives behind the attack remain unclear. Flydubai issued a statement warning against “premature speculation”, Reuters reported.

The airline said all flights between its hub in the United Arab Emirates and Israel had been suspended “while the investigation continues”. Before the incident, the airline operated 10 daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv.