India and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have hailed Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a FlyDubai flight who was reportedly stabbed in the cockpit which led to the aircraft being diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said its embassy in Riyadh and……
India and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have hailed Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a FlyDubai flight who was reportedly stabbed in the cockpit which led to the aircraft being diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said its embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah were monitoring Machchhar’s condition after he was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk.
“Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have been following the health condition of Mr Smit Machchhar, the brave Indian pilot of Flydubai flight that was diverted to Tabuk today,” the ministry said in a post on X.
“He is admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention. A full update on his health is awaited but he is reported to be in stable condition.
“We hope that he recovers from his injuries at the earliest. We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his wellbeing.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry described Machchhar as a hero, saying he fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit.
“This man is a hero,” the ministry said.
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It said that despite being severely injured, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save the passengers.
“Together, their extraordinary courage saved 174 lives,” the ministry said.
“Indian. Israeli. Emirati.
“Different nationalities. One extraordinary act of courage.”
The ministry wished Machchhar “a full and speedy recovery.”
Netanyahu also praised the pilot for his actions during the incident.
“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”
He added, “He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”
“I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery.
“He is a true hero,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.
TVC News Online reports that a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Israel was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an alleged fight in the cockpit, raising concerns about a possible hijacking and prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets.
According to CBS News, security officials said the incident stemmed from a fight between the commercial plane’s two pilots and that everyone on board was safe after it landed in Tabuk, where there is a civilian airport adjacent to a Saudi military base.
The Jerusalem Post reported that one pilot tried to hijack the plane but was subdued by other members of the flight crew and passengers, citing an unnamed Israeli official who told the newspaper that a “major disaster was narrowly avoided.”
A female passenger told Israel Hayom that one pilot was stabbed during the brawl, and Israeli passengers intervened to stop the fighting.
“There are people here with shirts covered in blood,” she said, describing the incident as “very stressful.” Videos shared on social media corroborated her account, showing two men on the floor with blood smeared on and around them.
