Benjamin Netanyahu Calls Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar a True Hero After Mid-Air Cockpit Attack

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar as a “true hero” after the Indian pilot was seriously injured during a violent cockpit attack that sent a Tel Aviv-bound passenger plane into a dangerous descent.

Machchhar, who was recovering in the United Arab Emirates, described the terrifying moments to Netanyahu in a telephone conversation released by the Israeli prime minister’s office.

Despite suffering serious injuries, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and restrain the attacker. The aircraft was eventually brought under control and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

“I Had One More Fight Left”

According to Machchhar’s account, the incident began after the co-pilot asked to pray inside the cockpit.

The captain said he initially considered the request ordinary and looked toward the front of the aircraft. Several minutes later, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head.

At first, Machchhar said, he believed something had gone seriously wrong with the aircraft.

Then the blows continued.

He realized he was being attacked by the other person in the cockpit.

Machchhar told Netanyahu that his vision became severely blurred and that he could hear the aircraft descending rapidly. With passengers screaming outside the cockpit, he attempted to open the door.

The co-pilot closed it again.

Machchhar said he knew he had to make another attempt.

“I had one more fight left,” he told Netanyahu, explaining that he used the last of his strength to open the door. Passengers were waiting outside and immediately entered the cockpit.

Passengers Helped Stop the Attack

Once the cockpit door opened, passengers and crew members intervened.

Several people helped overpower the attacker while others assisted in stabilizing the aircraft. Two additional pilots who were traveling as passengers also played a role in helping bring the flight under control.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying more than 170 people when the crisis unfolded.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft undergoing a dramatic descent before the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The plane ultimately landed safely in Tabuk, where the captain and co-pilot received medical treatment.

The incident has since been described by UAE authorities as a terrorist attack, while investigations into the circumstances and motive remain ongoing.

Netanyahu: “You Are a True Hero”

During his conversation with Machchhar, Netanyahu thanked the captain for his actions.

“You are a true hero,” the Israeli prime minister told him, praising the courage he displayed while seriously injured.

Netanyahu also invited Machchhar to Israel and said he wanted the captain and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in an Independence Day ceremony in May 2027.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also praised Machchhar and contacted his family following the incident.

India’s embassy in the UAE previously said the injured pilot was receiving medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.

A Crisis That Could Have Ended Very Differently

The incident has drawn international attention because of the number of people who acted within seconds as the aircraft descended.

Machchhar’s decision to reopen the cockpit door gave passengers an opportunity to enter and stop the attacker. Other passengers then helped restrain him, while pilots on board assisted with the aircraft.

A Georgian dentist traveling as a passenger also provided emergency medical assistance to Machchhar after the attack, helping control bleeding and keep the injured captain conscious until the plane landed.

The Guardian reported that a plumber, dentist, passengers and off-duty pilots were among those whose actions helped avert a potentially catastrophic outcome.

Investigation Continues

The United Arab Emirates is leading the investigation into the incident.

Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack, the actions of the co-pilot and whether the incident involved prior planning or a broader motive. Investigators from several countries are also examining the background of the alleged attacker.

Israeli officials have described the incident as an attempted attack on the aircraft, while the precise motive remains part of the investigation.

For Machchhar, however, the immediate priority has been recovery.

The captain survived the attack, helped open the cockpit to those waiting outside and played a crucial role in preventing the crisis from becoming a mass-casualty disaster.

Now, after being hailed by leaders in both India and Israel, Captain Smit Machchhar is being remembered internationally for one decision made under extraordinary pressure:

He fought to open that cockpit door when he knew his passengers were in danger.