Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Israeli-American Musician Honors Captain With Bollywood Song
Itay Benda is an Israeli-American musician who sang a Hindi song to honor pilot Smit Machchhar.
Benda said the song was his way of saying thank you.
The song is called “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai.”
It is from a 2008 movie starring Shah Rukh Khan.
Benda’s performance received praise online, including for his Hindi singing.
The tribute followed a frightening incident on a Flydubai flight on September 30.
The articles say the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar and tried to interfere with the plane’s controls.
Machchhar reportedly confronted the co-pilot despite being injured.
The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and all 174 people aboard survived.
Musician Itay Benda performed “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” as a tribute to Captain Smit Machchhar.
Benda called the performance his “small way of saying thank you” to Machchhar and Indians around the world.
The song, originally sung by Roop Kumar Rathore, is from Shah Rukh Khan’s 2008 film “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.”
The tribute followed an incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
The Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar and tried to interfere with the controls; all 174 people aboard survived after an emergency landing in Tabuk.
- Who
- Musician Itay Benda and Captain Smit Machchhar; an Omani co-pilot was alleged to have attacked Machchhar.
- What
- Benda performed “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai” to thank Machchhar after an alleged attack aboard a Flydubai flight.
- When
- The flight incident occurred on September 30; the tribute was reported on October 5, 2026.
- Where
- The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- Benda said the performance was his way of thanking Machchhar for his courage.
Reported Incident
Available Accounts
Alleged attack aboard the flight
Reported Incident
The articles report that the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls.
Available Accounts
The articles provide no separate account disputing the allegation; they describe it as alleged and report that Machchhar confronted the co-pilot.
- Musician
- Itay Benda, described as Israeli-American
- Tribute song
- “Tujh Mein Rab Dikhta Hai”
- Film
- “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” (2008)
- Original singer
- Roop Kumar Rathore
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- People aboard
- 174; all survived
- Emergency landing
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
