Flydubai Incident Highlights: Pilot Smit Machchhar ‘talking, smiling’ as Indian Embassy shares health update

Israel’s flagship carrier El Al to operate its first repatriation flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Friday to bring stranded Israelis home following the cancellation of flydubai flights to and from Israel.

We tied him up with our zip ties and headphones, said Zvika Meness, a passenger on board flydubai FZ1073 flight, when a pilot attacked his colleague mid-air in an alleged attempt to crash the plane.

A fight broke out in the cockpit between pilots on a flydubai FZ1073 flight flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his colleague in the cockpit. In less than 30 seconds, the jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 m). Amid the scuffle, Machchhar opened the cockpit.

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Saudi Arabia rejected multiple requests by Israel to send its own planes to retrieve passengers from the diverted flydubai flight, news agency AFP reported citing source with knowledge of the matter.

Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy described the Flydubai incident as an attempted terror attack and credited Captain Smit Machchhar and passengers with preventing a disaster.

"Israel believes this was an attempted terror attack and could well have been Israel's 9/11, if not for the heroism of the Indian captain who managed to open the door to the cockpit and let the passengers come in to save the flight. The co-pilot, a national of Oman, stabbed the Indian captain over the skies of Saudi Arabia and tried to take control of the cockpit. During that tussle, the brave Indian captain opened the door so that passengers could come in," Levy said.

"The passengers went inside and tackled the pilot. An Israeli plumber managed to grab the steering wheel of the plane in order to force it out of the nosedive. The other passengers restrained the terrorist pilot with earphones until an off-duty pilot on the plane was able to take control and eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia. There have been many hijackings of aircraft in the past. This is the first I know of a pilot who didn't just try to crash the plane, but planned to use it as a weapon for a possible 9/11 style attack, which was prevented because of the courage of the Indian co-pilot and those passengers on board." he added.

Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said the Flydubai attack occurred at a sensitive moment in the region, amid efforts to deepen regional cooperation.

"This attack happened at a crucial moment, a very sensitive moment in the region, when Israel was going to have elections, when only a few days back Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the UAE and consulted, according to reports, with leaders of the region. Each time that you have intensification of cooperation among countries in the region that are interested in prosperity and in fighting terrorism, you have terrorists who try to challenge that, as unfortunately happened in the terrible massacre of the 7th of October," said Azar.

President Isaac Herzog said he will recommend four Israelis aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism, according to The Times Of Israel.

The four men Herzog has recommended include Yaniv Hayoun, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Rajuan, who broke into the cockpit after Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot.

Hayoun, Manes, and Rajuan “rushed to assist, entered the cockpit, and overpowered the attacker, placing their own lives in real danger, while Hayoun steadied the aircraft’s controls,” Herzog said. “Once the attacker had been subdued, Dr Musayev provided lifesaving medical treatment to the seriously wounded pilot, helping to stabilise his condition until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage after the Indian pilot fought off his co-pilot during the Flydubai flight incident.

Shin Bet agents have headed to Dubai to prepare security arrangements for repatriation flights carrying Israeli travelers stranded after the flydubai plane attack, the Ynet news outlet reports.

The Shin Bet representatives will helm the security arrangements ahead of the repatriation flights, which are set to begin tomorrow.

Israel will operate flights to repatriate passengers who had booked travel with non-Israeli airlines and are now stranded without a route home.

Divya A from Delhi reports that Captain Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and other officials for his immense courage in saving 180 lives on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 despite suffering serious injuries. Currently, Captain Machchhar is receiving medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the flight landed following the incident. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh are closely monitoring his recovery, staying in touch with his family, and coordinating with Saudi authorities to ensure he receives all necessary support.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar’s wife and parents, praised his bravery and assured the family that Indian missions are providing all possible help, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad praised Captain Smit Machchhar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu recognised the Indian pilot’s courage during the Flydubai incident.

"Undoubtedly, India is proud of pilots like Captain Smit Machchhar. That is why both Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have recognised the courage and bravery displayed by Captain Smit Machchhar. He saved the lives of 180 passengers and, despite being injured in the cockpit, thwarted the plans of those who were allegedly plotting the incident," he said.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal praised Captain Smit Machchhar’s bravery, saying the injured pilot is safe, receiving medical care and recovering.

"We salute the bravery of Captain Smit Machchhar, who, inspite of being gravely injured, showed remarkable courage that saved the lives of many. He is receiving medical attention and is safe. We wish and pray for his speedy recovery. The nation proudly stands with him and his family," Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Flydubai said it will suspend all flights to and from Israel while authorities investigate the reported attempt by one of its co-pilots to crash an aircraft, according to The Times Of Israel.

“This temporary suspension will allow the relevant authorities to continue their work and establish all the facts surrounding the incident,” a flydubai spokesperson said. “We are fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and maintaining the highest safety standards across our network.”

“We remain in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders and will review the suspension as more information becomes available,” the spokesperson added.

Captain Smit Machchhar’s childhood friend Prateek Gandhi said the Indian pilot is doing well and has undergone surgery after being injured in the Flydubai cockpit incident.

"I was born and brought up here... We were together from childhood until 2008... We were all shocked when the news came in and we realised it was Smit. We immediately became concerned and started wondering what had happened and what his condition was. As of today, we've heard that he's doing well and has undergone surgery," Gandhi told news agency PTI.

“He was very calm and composed from day one. He was the most “sorted out” kind of kid in our housing society,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery after he was seriously injured while resisting an attacker aboard a Flydubai flight.

"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his 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 in a post on X.

"He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery," he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met the flydubai passenger, who, along with a pilot, foiled a co-pilot’s attempt to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday.

The incident occurred after a flydubai pilot stabbed his co-pilot, an Indian national, during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv to take over the aircraft’s control and crash it. Crediting the Israeli national for the valour act, Netanyahu said, “I see a lion, I see a great hero.”

The passenger, Yaniv Hayun, along with Indian national Smit Machchhar, foiled the attempt of a co-pilot, an Omani national, to crash the flight FZ1073. The crash bid began with an altercation in the flight deck that left the Indian pilot with stab wounds and sending the jet plunging ​nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. An on-duty crew secured the aircraft, diverted it and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

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India’s Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah on Wednesday said that they are closely monitoring the health condition of Captain Machchhar, and that he was in stable condition, receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

“Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have been following the health condition of Mr Smit Machchhar, the brave Indian pilot of Flydubai flight that was diverted to Tabuk today. He is admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention,” the embanssy said in a post on X.

The MEA said it remains in touch with his family and Saudi authorities and will provide all possible assistance for his recovery.

“A full update on his health is awaited but he is reported to be in stable condition. We hope that he recovers from his injuries at the earliest. 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 wellbeing,” the post added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he did not know the exact background of the flydubai copilot accused of attacking the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft, “but he obviously hated Israelis.”

In an interview with Fox News, he said, "that is fanaticism and hatred of an incalculable level." Asked about possible Iranian involvement in the attack, Netanyahu said it was “too early to say.”

“The attacking pilot is now being investigated Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be taken to the Emirates where he comes from — or at least where he flew off from,” he said. “We’ll be following and also possibly participating in this investigation.”