Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar? The Pilot Who Fought Back Mid-Air on Flydubai FZ1073

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Wounded and bleeding on the cockpit floor, Captain Smit Machchhar still managed to trigger the release that unlocked the door. According to Israeli officials, that single act let passengers and crew overpower his co-pilot aboard Flydubai FZ1073, a Dubai to Tel Aviv flight, on Wednesday, 30 September.

By Thursday, the Indian pilot was being hailed as a hero in New Delhi, Tel Aviv and Washington. So who is Smit Machchhar, and what is known so far?

Photo Credit: X: @IsraelMFA

Minutes That Nearly Ended In Disaster

Flydubai FZ1073 was over Jordan when it abruptly lost altitude, dropping around 17,000 feet in about a minute, according to Flightradar24. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers.

Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told The Times of Israel that Machchhar clicked open the door release despite his wounds. Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot, whom Israeli officials identified as an Omani national. Two other Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers landed the jet at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

An Israeli doctor on board treated the captain soon after the attack, said Orli Weitzman, Israel's consul general to south India.

Smit Machchhar: The Boy Who Never Planned To Fly

Aviation was never his childhood dream. Machchhar studied textile engineering, expecting to join the family business. An aviation seminar at around 19 changed his course, he said in a 2025 YouTube interview.

He trained in New Zealand, spent 11 years at SpiceJet, rising to line training captain, and joined Flydubai in 2022. His LinkedIn profile lists more than 9,750 flying hours. Reports describe him as a 39-year-old father of two.

Neighbour Akshay Doshi, who has known him for about 15 years, said his courage was no surprise. Childhood friend Pratik Gandhi remembers a boy who was always calm. Another former neighbour, Jinat Shah, described him as "talented, soft spoken, kind-hearted".

Hailed A Hero From Mumbai To Tel Aviv

"Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO," Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X. Modi said he had spoken to the pilot's wife and parents.

Netanyahu called Machchhar a "true hero", while President Droupadi Murmu saluted his presence of mind.

What Happens Next

Machchhar reportedly underwent surgery and remains in hospital in Tabuk, reported to be in stable condition by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. His parents have reportedly flown to Saudi Arabia to be with him.

Investigators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are examining what happened. Flydubai says the motive is unknown and has suspended flights to Israel. Israel has said it will treat the episode as a terror incident, though Netanyahu told Fox News it was too early to say who was behind it.

Until investigators report, details may change.

Bottomline

For Machchhar, the job has always ended at the cockpit door. "When you walk out of the cockpit, that's it," he said in the 2025 interview, a nod to the children waiting at home. On Wednesday, the door mattered in another way. By opening it, he gave a planeful of strangers the chance to go home.