Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Prayers Honor Indian Pilot After Flydubai Cockpit Attack
Captain Smit Machchhar was flying a Flydubai plane when his co-pilot attacked him with a knife.
The plane suddenly dropped almost 14,000 feet.
Even though he was badly hurt, Machchhar opened the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then stopped the co-pilot.
Two other pilots took control and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Everyone on the flight reached Israel safely.
Machchhar was taken to a hospital and later flown to Abu Dhabi for more treatment.
Temples in Kashi and Somnath held prayers for his recovery.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised him as a hero.
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust organized Rudrabhishek prayers for Captain Smit Machchhar’s health and long life.
The trust said 21 scholars performed Rudrabhishek while 11 scholars chanted 100,000 Mahamrityunjay mantras.
The Shri Somnath Temple also conducted special worship and began a continuous Mahamrityunjaya Mantra ritual for Machchhar.
Machchhar was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot after a Flydubai flight carrying 174 people took off from Dubai.
The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet, was stabilized after passengers subdued the co-pilot, and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, his Omani co-pilot, passengers and crew, and two other Flydubai pilots aboard the flight.
- What
- Machchhar was stabbed after takeoff but helped passengers and crew regain access to the cockpit and avert a possible crash.
- When
- The Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust posted its prayer update on October 1, 2026; the flight incident occurred earlier.
- Where
- The flight departed from Dubai and landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Machchhar was later airlifted to Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- Temples held prayers and rituals for Machchhar’s health and long life after he helped save the flight.
- Flight operator
- Flydubai
- People aboard
- 174
- Flight emergency
- The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before being stabilized.
- Landing location
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Medical transfer
- Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care.
- Kashi prayers
- Twenty-one scholars performed Rudrabhishek, while 11 scholars chanted 100,000 Mahamrityunjay mantras.
- Official praise
- Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu described Machchhar as a hero.