Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot from Mumbai, has emerged as one of the central figures in the dramatic Flydubai flight emergency that unfolded on September 30.
Machchhar was commanding Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when an alleged violent confrontation broke out inside the cockpit. According to Israeli officials and passenger accounts, the co-pilot attacked and stabbed Machchhar during the flight, triggering a rapid descent and a major aviation emergency.
Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew to enter, overpower the attacker and help restore control of the aircraft. The plane was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
There were 174 passengers aboard the flight, while reports put the total number of people on board at around 180 when crew members are included. Machchhar was seriously injured and underwent surgery in Saudi Arabia. Indian authorities later said he was in stable condition.
His actions have since drawn praise from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others. But who exactly is Smit Machchhar? What is his aviation background? And how did an experienced Indian pilot find himself at the centre of one of the most extraordinary commercial aviation emergencies of the year?
Who is Smit Machchhar?
Smit Machchhar is an Indian commercial airline pilot from Mumbai who has spent more than a decade flying Boeing 737 aircraft. According to his professional profile and reports based on information from people familiar with his career, Machchhar joined SpiceJet in June 2011 and spent around 11 years with the airline.
He subsequently moved to Flydubai in June 2022, joining the Dubai-based airline as a direct-entry captain. His professional profile lists approximately 9,750 hours of flying experience, including experience on the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Before leaving SpiceJet, Machchhar had progressed to senior command positions and worked as a line training captain, a role involving the training and assessment of pilots during airline operations. That experience became particularly significant when the emergency unfolded aboard FZ1073.
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Smit Machchhar’s career before Flydubai
Machchhar’s aviation career began in India.He joined SpiceJet in 2011 and spent more than a decade flying for the airline.
During his time there, he progressed through the ranks and eventually became a senior commander. He later became a line training captain, meaning he was involved not only in operating flights but also in training and assessing other pilots. His professional profile lists November 2020 as the beginning of his line training captain role at SpiceJet.
Machchhar then made the move to Flydubai in 2022. At Flydubai, he continued flying the Boeing 737 family, including the 737 MAX 8 and 737-800.
“His profile describes him as having extensive experience in pilot mentoring, assessment, safety and operational standards.
From textile engineering to the cockpit
Machchhar’s journey into aviation was reportedly not something he had planned from childhood. According to a profile based partly on an interview he gave in 2025, Machchhar initially studied textile engineering, with plans to become involved in his family’s textile business.
He later pursued management studies in Mumbai. It was during his management education that he attended an aviation seminar and developed an interest in flying.
That experience changed the direction of his career. Instead of continuing toward the family business, Machchhar decided to pursue pilot training and eventually travelled to New Zealand for flight training. The decision eventually led him to SpiceJet and later Flydubai.
PM Narendra Modi praises Smit Machchhar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar after the incident and described his actions as those of a hero. Modi said Machchhar showed courage and determination despite being seriously injured and credited his actions with helping save hundreds of lives.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also publicly praised the Indian captain. The international recognition has brought significant attention to Machchhar’s career and background.
What did Benjamin Netanyahu say about Machchhar?
Netanyahu credited Machchhar with helping prevent what he described as a potentially catastrophic mid-air disaster.
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According to Reuters, Netanyahu said Machchhar fought back despite being stabbed and seriously injured, opened the cockpit door and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker. Netanyahu specifically referred to the lives of the 174 passengers aboard the aircraft.
How did Smit Machchhar become involved in the Flydubai emergency?
On September 30, Machchhar was the captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX and had 174 passengers aboard.
The flight initially proceeded normally. However, more than two hours into the journey, the aircraft experienced a dramatic change in altitude.
Flight data analysed by media outlets showed the aircraft descending extremely rapidly from cruising altitude. Hindustan Times reported that the aircraft fell from around 33,225 feet to 18,925 feet in approximately 37 seconds during one phase of the incident. The incident occurred while the aircraft was over the region around northern Saudi Arabia.
What happened inside the cockpit?
The exact sequence of events remains under investigation. Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck, but the airline has cautioned against premature speculation about the motives behind the incident .Israeli officials and passenger accounts have provided a more detailed account.
According to those accounts, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar with a knife and stabbed him. The confrontation reportedly left Machchhar seriously injured while the aircraft began its dramatic descent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said Machchhar fought back despite being seriously injured and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter. The exact circumstances of the confrontation, including its motive, remain subject to investigation.
The moment that may have saved the passengers
One of the most significant details to emerge from the incident concerns the cockpit door. According to accounts from Israeli officials and passengers, Machchhar was seriously wounded and was on the cockpit floor when he managed to activate the mechanism that opened the cockpit door. That allowed people outside the cockpit to enter.
Passengers and crew then reportedly intervened and restrained the alleged attacker. A second group of Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also became involved in restoring control of the aircraft.
This sequence is crucial to understanding why Machchhar has been credited with helping prevent a potentially catastrophic outcome. Had the cockpit remained inaccessible, the people inside the cabin would have had far fewer options to intervene.
How did passengers help?
Passenger accounts describe a chaotic scene after the cockpit door opened. People rushed toward the flight deck and helped overpower the alleged attacker.
One passenger reportedly helped restrain the attacker, while others assisted Machchhar. A dentist travelling on the aircraft also reportedly entered the cockpit and helped treat the injured captain and restrain the attacker. Other passengers and crew members joined the effort.
The aircraft also had additional pilots aboard who were able to assist with the flight. Those pilots eventually helped stabilise the aircraft and land it safely.
How did the plane land safely?
After the attacker was subdued, additional pilots aboard the aircraft helped regain control. The plane was diverted away from its original destination and headed toward Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center confirmed that it had opened an investigation into the emergency landing and was coordinating with relevant authorities to establish what happened and collect evidence.
All passengers and crew were reported safe and accounted for. The passengers later continued their journey to Israel on an alternative aircraft.
What happened to Smit Machchhar after the landing?
Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk for medical treatment. Indian authorities said they were in contact with Saudi officials and Machchhar’s family. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was stable after the incident. Reports also said he underwent surgery for his injuries.
His recovery became a major focus in India as news of his role aboard the aircraft spread.
How much flying experience does Smit Machchhar have?
Machchhar’s professional profile lists approximately 9,750 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft. His experience includes the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9.
He also reportedly accumulated more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command during his time with SpiceJet. That places him among experienced commercial airline pilots, rather than someone relatively new to command.
His previous position as a line training captain also meant that he had experience training and assessing other pilots.
What aircraft was Smit Machchhar flying?
Machchhar was the captain of a Boeing 737 MAX operated by Flydubai. Flydubai operates a large Boeing 737 fleet, and Machchhar had professional experience across the 737 family. The aircraft involved in the incident was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the emergency occurred. The aircraft ultimately landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
What happened to the co-pilot?
The co-pilot was reportedly arrested by Saudi authorities following the emergency landing. Israeli officials identified him as an Omani national.
What is known about Smit Machchhar’s family?
Machchhar is from Ghatkopar East in Mumbai and has been based in Dubai for his Flydubai career, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. Reports have said his family was in contact with Indian authorities following the incident. Some Indian media reports have also said that Machchhar’s brother is a pilot.
However, details about his private family life have not been independently confirmed by official sources and are not central to understanding the aviation incident. Career details are based primarily on Machchhar’s professional profile as reported by Indian media.
