Now Reading: Netanyahu hails Indian pilot Smit Machchhar after flydubai cockpit attack
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Netanyahu hails Indian pilot Smit Machchhar after flydubai cockpit attack
Netanyahu hails Indian pilot Smit Machchhar after flydubai cockpit attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his 'extraordinary bravery' after he was stabbed by his co-pilot aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. In a post on X on 30 September, Netanyahu said Machchhar, despite serious injuries, fought back, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, saving 174 lives. Netanyahu called him a 'true hero' and wished him a full recovery.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September when a struggle broke out in the cockpit, India Today reports. The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, stabbed Machchhar. The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Two off-duty flydubai pilots on board took over controls, stabilised the plane, and diverted it to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. flydubai has suspended its 10 daily Dubai-Tel Aviv flights for six days pending an investigation.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All five sources report Netanyahu's praise of Captain Machchhar in near-identical terms, leading with his X post and the 174 figure. Times Now and India Today frame the incident as a cockpit struggle and dramatic descent, emphasising the passengers' role. Hindustan Times adds that flydubai suspended Tel Aviv flights for six days, while The Times of India reports that a rescue flight landed in Israel. The Hindu provides background on Machchhar's career with SpiceJet and flydubai. The coverage is uniform, straight reporting with no discernible slant. The investigation by flydubai and Saudi authorities remains open.
The Omani co-pilot is being questioned by Saudi officials, Netanyahu said. The incident is under investigation.
Coverage: 5 sources, 5 neutral
Sources (5): timesnownews.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), thehindu.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 5 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 1 October 2026: this story now draws on 5 sources.
