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Netanyahu Praises Indian Pilot Who Saved 174 Lives Despite Knife Attack
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CNBC Awaaz•01-10-2026, 17:12
Netanyahu Praises Indian Pilot Who Saved 174 Lives Despite Knife Attack
- •Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a "true hero" for his extraordinary bravery.
- •Netanyahu posted on X that despite being seriously injured in a knife attack, Captain Smit fought back, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the assailant.
- •Captain Smit's actions saved the lives of 174 people on board, including Israeli citizens and passengers from other countries.
- •Israel's Consul General Orly Weitzman also praised Captain Smit, stating his bravery prevented the incident from escalating into a much larger attack.
- •The Flydubai flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Captain Smit is receiving treatment, and his condition is reported as stable.
Key Questions Answered
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Smit Machchhar on X as a true hero, highlighting his extraordinary bravery in fighting back after being stabbed and seriously injured on a Flydubai flight.
Despite being stabbed and losing significant blood from a knife attack by his co-pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, saving 174 lives.
After an emergency signal was sent and the aircraft rapidly descended more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet, Flydubai flight FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
