On Wednesday, Oct 1 2026, Captain Smit Machchhar was confronted by a co‑pilot who attempted a mid‑air hijack on a flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The attacker stabbed the captain in the cockpit, but Machchhar managed to trigger the emergency release and open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew seized the co‑pilot, and two flydubai pilots in the cabin helped the plane land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The captain, 38, was found with blood on the cockpit floor when emergency crews boarded. He sustained bruises and a minor laceration but is now in intensive care. According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, he is expected to recover fully within the next few weeks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Machchhar a "true hero" and praised his "extraordinary bravery" in a statement released on Thursday. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the UPSC centenary ceremony, hailed the captain as a national symbol of courage.
Prateek Gandhi, a childhood friend from Mumbai, shared that Machchhar had always been calm and composed even as a boy. He recalled playing cricket with the captain in the back garden of their apartment block. "We are proud that he was born here and did such a wonderful job for our country," Gandhi told NDTV.
The incident has sparked investigations into the co‑pilot's motives and the airline's security protocols. A joint inquiry by Indian and Israeli aviation authorities is expected to begin next month. Meanwhile, the captain's family has requested prayers for his recovery.