Indian pilot | DD News

October 2, 2026 2:15 PM

‘Whole Country Is Praying for You’: PM Modi Speaks to Captain Smit Machchhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped avert a major tragedy after being attacked by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During a video call, PM Modi praised Captain Machchhar’s courage, presence of mind and composure and said the entire country was praying for his recovery. The Prime Minister began the interaction by asking the pilot about his health. “How are you? How's your health now?”...

October 2, 2026 12:30 AM

Closely following health condition of Smit Machchhar: MEA

India on Thursday said it is keeping a close tab on the health of Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot hailed for saving a flydubai flight despite being stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to bring down the plane. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. He has been shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care and recovery after he received initial medical treatment in ...

October 1, 2026 3:42 PM

Israeli leaders hail Indian pilot as ‘true hero’ for foiling flydubai crash attempt

Israeli leaders have hailed Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, as a "hero" for thwarting an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a flydubai flight carrying nearly 180 people, and wished him a speedy recovery. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. "Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and c...

October 1, 2026 2:33 PM

‘India is proud’: BJP leaders hail pilot Smit Machchhar, wish him speedy recovery

Several BJP leaders, including Union minister Rajnath Singh and party chief Nitin Nabin, on Thursday lauded Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his courage in averting disaster by fighting off his co-pilot's alleged attempt to crash the flydubai aircraft carrying 174 passengers. flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, transmitted emergency signals on Wednesday and made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airpo...

October 1, 2026 1:04 PM

Neighbours in Mumbai fondly recall hero pilot Smit Machchhar, pray for his speedy recovery

Neighbours of the Mumbai-based family of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar said on Thursday that they were proud of him and were praying for his speedy recovery. Captain Machchhar has been hailed as a hero for fighting off a co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, drawing global attention and praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. He used to live with his parents at Swastik Heights in the Ghatkopar area...

October 1, 2026 12:05 PM

From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar wins praise for foiling flydubai crash attempt

For Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, hailed as a hero for averting a crash of a flydubai jet bound for Israel, aviation was never part of his childhood dreams. Machchhar had his sights set on the family's textile business, until the aviation bug bit at the age of 19, which scared his mother. Now even after thousands of hours of flying, Machchhar's love of aviation is something he keeps in the cockpit, reluctant to discuss with those on the ground. "Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO," Indian Prime ...