Indian Pilot Praised After Flydubai Cockpit Attack

Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump following a violent incident inside the cockpit of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight but fought back and helped open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. Netanyahu described his actions as extraordinary bravery, while Trump also called the Indian pilot a hero.

Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was carrying 174 people when the cockpit incident occurred. The aircraft experienced a sharp descent before passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, who was reportedly an Omani national. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers then helped regain control of the aircraft. The flight was diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, while Machchhar was admitted to a hospital and reported to be in stable condition.