Tel Aviv: Israeli social media users have flooded platforms with tributes to Indian flydubai captain Smit Machchhar, urging others to “remember his name” after he was seriously injured during a cockpit confrontation that was followed by an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar was flying FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 people, when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife and the aircraft rapidly lost altitude.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and restrain the co-pilot.
Other pilots aboard then helped regain control before the plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli users shared tribute videos thanking Machchhar and India, while Israeli officials also recognised the role of passengers and crew in the incident.
Journalist explains how the Indian pilot Smit Machchhar saved the Fly Dubai flight bound for Israel.
"The pilot, he was such a hero..he was fighting the co-pilot who was stabbing him. He managed to open the door" pic.twitter.com/afb3ITNuaG
— Ravi Karkara (@ravikarkara) October 1, 2026
Machchhar, a Mumbai native, has about 9,750 flying hours and previously spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022.
He underwent surgery and was reported stable by the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel while the incident is investigated, saying its underlying cause remains unknown.
