New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his immense courage and unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others in the face of grave danger, despite being seriously injured.
The Prime Minister said that Captain Machchhar’s valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. PM Modi said that India is proud of Captain Machchhar and prayed for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.
The Prime Minister said in an X post;
“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. India is proud of Captain Machchhar. Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength, and good health.”
Captain Smit Machchhar was on board the FZ 1073, Fly Dubai plane en route to Tel Aviv in Israel from Dubai on 30 September 2026. During the flight, his copilot allegedly stabbed him mid-air, and the plane dropped to about 14,000 feet. After which a hijack signal was sent.
Machchhar then initiated an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, saving 174 lives.
The pilot’s health is currently stable, and he is being treated at a hospital in Tabuk. The copilot, a citizen of Oman, was apprehended at the Tabuk airport and has been sent in for interrogation. Following his act of bravery, Machchhar has been applauded by the Israeli President, Benjamin Netanyahu, the US President, Donald Trump, and the Israel Airline Pilots Association Trust.
Machchhar has been working with Fly Dubai since 2022; previously, he spent 11 years at SpiceJet as a senior commander and a line training captain in Mumbai.
