Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Pilot Smit Machchhar Praised for Heroics During Cockpit Attack
On September 30, Captain Smit Machchhar was flying a plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
His co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit and stabbed him.
Even while hurt, Smit opened the cockpit door and used emergency codes.
Off-duty pilots on the plane then took over, and the plane landed in Saudi Arabia.
The incident ended with 174 lives saved, according to the report.
Smit later said he kept going because he could not let the passengers die.
A former colleague said pilots practice emergencies, but using that training in a real crisis takes courage.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Smit while he was recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Captain Smit Machchhar fought off an attack by his co-pilot during a September 30 Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Machchhar was stabbed but opened the cockpit door and activated emergency codes during the struggle.
Off-duty pilots onboard took over, and the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia with 174 lives saved.
Former SpiceJet colleague Teena Goswami described Machchhar as humble, respectful, helpful, and highly trained.
Machchhar told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he kept fighting because he could not let the passengers die.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, his co-pilot, off-duty pilots onboard, and the 174 people aboard the flight were involved.
- What
- Machchhar fought off a co-pilot attack, opened the cockpit door, activated emergency codes, and helped enable the aircraft's safe landing.
- When
- September 30; Machchhar later spoke with Narendra Modi from a hospital bed.
- Where
- The attack occurred in the cockpit of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight; the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia, and Machchhar was hospitalized in Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- Machchhar said he acted because he could not let the passengers die.
- Flight route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Date of incident
- September 30
- People aboard
- 174 lives
- Attacker
- The flight's co-pilot, who was taken into custody in Saudi Arabia
- Emergency response
- Off-duty pilots onboard took over the aircraft
- Machchhar's condition
- He spoke with Narendra Modi from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi
- Training
- Pilots undergo six-monthly training and simulator sessions