FM Saar to FlyDubai Indian Captain: Grateful for your Courage and Heroism
Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar thanks Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and heroism in averting a crisis on FlyDubai flight FZ1073.
Jerusalem, 1 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage after the FlyDubai pilot helped avert a disaster on Flight FZ1073.
Machchhar was seriously injured when his co-pilot attacked him during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which was carrying 174 passengers, most of them Israelis. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker.
Two off-duty flydubai pilots aboard the aircraft then took control and safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Sa’ar said Israel was “grateful for the bravery and courage” of the Indian captain, whose actions saved the flight and its passengers. He also praised the Israeli passengers who intervened.
Machchhar, a native of Mumbai, underwent surgery and was reported in stable condition.