Stories
PM Modi Praises Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for Heroic Actions in Cockpit Incident
- •Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Captain Smit Machchhar via video call after he was injured in a cockpit incident on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- •Modi praised Machchhar's presence of mind and composure, stating his actions prevented loss of lives and wished him a speedy recovery.
- •The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073, where the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and attempted to interfere with controls.
- •Despite being injured, Machchhar regained cockpit access, and with help from an Israeli passenger and crew, overpowered the co-pilot.
- •The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu also credited Machchhar with averting a catastrophe.
Key Questions Answered
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a cockpit emergency when Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly attacked and stabbed by the co-pilot. Despite his injuries, Machchhar regained cockpit access with the help of an Israeli passenger and a crew member who overpowered the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Captain Machchhar via video call on Friday, October 2, 2026, to check on his health, wish him a speedy recovery, and converse with his family. Modi praised Machchhar's courage, presence of mind, and composure, stating that his actions saved many lives and averted a major tragedy.
Captain Smit Machchhar is from Mumbai and possesses over 13 years of commercial flying experience. He has accumulated more than 9,500 flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command, and previously worked with SpiceJet for more than 11 years before joining Flydubai as a captain in June 2022.
