Modi praises pilot injured while helping stop alleged Flydubai attack

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured during an incident aboard a Flydubai flight and helped passengers and crew prevent a possible disaster. Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by the co-pilot while the aircraft was travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. The plane entered a steep descent, but the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door and alert those outside, according to accounts cited by officials and media reports.

Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot. A second pair of Flydubai pilots travelling among the passengers helped land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 174 people aboard were reported safe, and passengers later continued to Israel on a replacement flight.

Modi called Machchhar a “hero” in a post on X, saying that despite being seriously injured he had shown courage and determination to protect others. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said the pilot was stable and receiving medical treatment in Tabuk. Reports said he underwent surgery.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump also praised the pilot. Israeli officials described the incident as a serious security event, while Israel’s defence minister called it an attempted terror attack. Netanyahu said it was too early to determine who was behind the incident or what motivated the co-pilot.

Flydubai said the aircraft had landed safely and that all passengers were accounted for. The airline suspended flights to and from Israel while an investigation continued. It said the reasons for the cockpit confrontation and the underlying motives remained unknown, urging against premature speculation.

Saudi authorities were expected to question the co-pilot.