Archive · 1 Oct 2026
PM Modi Praises Pilot Smit Machchhar After Flydubai Emergency
A serious problem happened on a flydubai airplane traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Reports said a man attacked the co-pilot, causing a fight for control of the plane.
Another account said the co-pilot was trying to crash the aircraft.
Captain Smit Machchhar helped stop a much bigger disaster.
He was seriously injured during the incident.
The plane eventually made an emergency landing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a hero.
Modi also wished him a quick recovery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Captain Smit Machchhar a hero on October 1.
Machchhar reportedly helped avert a catastrophe aboard a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on September 30.
The incident involved an attack on the co-pilot and a struggle for control of the aircraft.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had tried to crash the plane.
Modi said Machchhar was seriously injured but helped save hundreds of lives.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were central to the reports.
- What
- Machchhar was praised for helping avert a possible crash after an onboard attack and struggle for control of a flydubai aircraft.
- When
- The incident occurred on September 30, and Modi praised Machchhar on October 1.
- Where
- The aircraft was a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight; the location of its emergency landing was not specified.
- Why
- Modi said Machchhar acted courageously to protect passengers and prevent a major tragedy.
Reported Incident Account
Netanyahu’s Characterization
What happened aboard the aircraft
Reported Incident Account
One report described a man attacking the co-pilot, triggering a fight for control of the aircraft and an emergency landing.
Netanyahu’s Characterization
Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had been trying to crash the aircraft and kill all its passengers.
Machchhar’s role
Reported Incident Account
The reports said Machchhar helped avert a catastrophe despite being seriously injured.
Netanyahu’s Characterization
Netanyahu said Machchhar prevented a major disaster, while Modi described his actions as saving hundreds of lives.
- Pilot praised
- Captain Smit Machchhar
- Flight operator
- flydubai
- Flight route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Incident date
- September 30
- Praise date
- October 1
- Pilot's condition
- Reportedly seriously injured
- Reported outcome
- Emergency landing and prevention of a larger catastrophe
