THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has emerged as a symbol of extraordinary courage after allegedly thwarting an attempt by his co-pilot to crash a flydubai flight bound for Israel, earning widespread praise from India’s top leadership and Israeli officials.

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan lauded Captain Machchhar’s exceptional bravery and presence of mind in the face of grave danger, describing him as a “courageous son of India” and saying the country was proud of the extraordinary hero.

In a social media post, Radhakrishnan said Captain Machchhar’s conduct under extreme circumstances commanded the highest respect and admiration. His remarks came after reports that the Indian pilot fought off his co-pilot during the flight, which was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Captain Machchhar’s courage, patience and acumen, saying his actions had filled every Indian heart with pride. Addressing an event marking the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Modi said the entire world was proud of the Indian pilot.

 “Like Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu today said, this Indian thwarted a 9/11-like attack. For every Indian, Smit’s bravery fills our heart with pride,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also appealed to citizens to pray for Captain Machchhar’s long life and good health, while praising him for bringing pride to the country.

According to reports, flydubai flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, transmitted emergency signals and underwent a sharp descent before being diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.

Israeli leaders have also praised Captain Machchhar, calling him a hero for his role in preventing what could have become a catastrophic disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot inside the cockpit but continued to fight back.

 “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 statement, describing Machchhar as a “true hero” and wishing him a speedy recovery.