Who Is Smit Machchhar? Indian Captain Hailed a Hero After Alleged Cockpit Attack on Israel-Bound Flight

The Indian captain of an Israel-bound Flydubai flight is being praised online after a passenger said the wounded pilot appeared to open the cockpit door after his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him.

Smit Machchhar was identified as the captain attacked in the cockpit of Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, 30 September. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 diverted to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.

The co-pilot has not been publicly named. He is accused of attacking Machchhar, although the circumstances and motive remain under investigation. No further details about Machchhar's condition had been made public at the time of writing.

Former SpiceJet Trainer With 13 Years in the Cockpit

Machchhar joined flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain, according to his LinkedIn profile cited by Indian media. The role allows experienced pilots to join an airline as captains rather than progressing through its ranks after joining.

Before moving to flydubai, Machchhar spent more than 11 years at Indian budget carrier SpiceJet. He worked as a senior commander and later became a Line Training Captain, responsible for training and checking other pilots.

His LinkedIn profile lists about 9,750 flying hours on Boeing 737 variants, including the 737-800 and 737 MAX.

Passenger Says Wounded Pilot Opened the Door

Yaniv Hayun, an Israeli passenger who rushed towards the cockpit, described the incident during a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after passengers arrived at Ben Gurion Airport. Hayun said someone screamed before the lights went out.

According to Hayun, the wounded pilot was at the cockpit door and appeared to have managed to open it before collapsing. He said another pilot on board then came forward and took control of the aircraft.

Netanyahu embraced Hayun during the meeting. When Hayun told him, 'We are a nation of lions,' the prime minister replied: 'I see you and I see a lion. You are a great hero.'

Hayun's account has not been independently verified, and the full sequence inside the cockpit has not been officially established. Israeli officials have since given accounts supporting the captain's intervention, but the investigation remains ongoing.

'A Hero Among Heroes'

Praise for Machchhar spread on social media after Indian outlets published his identity. An X post by Eitan Fischberger described the captain as 'a hero among heroes' and credited his actions with potentially saving lives. The post also claimed his actions may have prevented a wider regional conflict.

The incident has also prompted calls for changes to aviation arrangements. Transport Minister Miri Regev has pushed for Flydubai flights to be suspended and asked officials to examine whether aviation arrangements involving the UAE were breached after reports that the co-pilot was an Omani national. No breach has been established.

The incident has also prompted calls for changes to aviation arrangements. Transport Minister Miri Regev has pushed for Flydubai flights to be suspended and asked officials to examine whether aviation arrangements involving the UAE were breached after reports that the co-pilot was an Omani national. No breach has been established.

Netanyahu also said he had spoken with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan about aviation security. Israel's Shin Bet temporarily approved Israeli airlines to use leased aircraft for flights to the UAE while the matter was examined.

The Dubai-based carrier flydubai began scheduled flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv in November 2020, following the normalisation of relations between Israel and the UAE. The incident could prompt further scrutiny of cockpit security and pilot screening.