Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been lauded across the world after his daring move to avert a possible catastrophe during a flight he was flying over Dubai. The pilot was critically wounded during a fight in the cockpit but still kept up with his duties. The encounter occurred aboard a drone on 30 September 2026, on a journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The drone, a Boeing 737, which had 174 people on board, was reportedly in a fight in the cockpit at the time.
Pilot injured during cockpit attack
Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot while flying the plane. As a result of the sudden loss in altitude, the plane was in a dangerous position in the air. Although severely wounded, Machchhar reportedly fought the attacker before opening the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to get in and overpower the culprit. The jet was reportedly rerouted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and force-landed there. No injuries or casualties were reported, and there was no indication of any passenger or crew member being harmed.
Quick actions helped avert a potential tragedy
The plane plummeted thousands of feet in seconds during the cockpit melee, reports show, and was brought to heel before the aircraft was fatally compromised. Machchhar’s actions and the assistance of crew members and passengers on the flight helped to contain the situation and ensured a safe landing of the aircraft. The investigation into the incident and the cockpit attack is still ongoing.
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Machchhar is an Indian pilot based in Mumbai with over 13 years of commercial flying experience and in excess of 9,500 flight hours. Prior to joining the airline in June 2022, he served with SpiceJet for over 11 years. He has flown the Boeing 737 aircraft. He has been working as a Flydubai captain since 2022. His aviation career includes considerable work in commercial operations.
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International praise for the Indian pilot
Machchhar’s deeds have earned him the admiration of Indian and Israeli authorities. Indian authorities have said Machchhar’s actions have saved the lives of those on board. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled him a “true hero.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Machchhar’s mettle. “Even after being severely hurt, he bravely battled against the terrorists while risking his own life,” he wrote.
Machchhar remains stable after the incident
Subsequently, Machchhar was admitted to hospital for treatment after the emergency landing in Tabuk. An Indian Embassy official in Riyadh said he was being treated and was in a stable condition while his family in India and the Saudi authorities had been kept informed. The enquiry into the cockpit ordeal is in progress. For now, the calm leadership Captain Smit Machchhar demonstrated in an unimaginably tough situation has gained global attention, and his actions are being lauded for ensuring the flight and its occupants made it to the ground safely.
