‘Hero’ Flydubai captain wins hearts in India and Israel; Netanyahu says probe will examine possible Iran link

New Delhi: Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot whose actions helped avert a disaster aboard an Israel-bound flydubai aircraft, has become a focus of admiration on Indian and Israeli social media. Tributes from political leaders, aviation colleagues and Israeli users have highlighted his decision to open the cockpit door despite being seriously wounded, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, joined the praise on Thursday, calling Machchhar a hero and expressing pride in his courage under extreme danger. Meanwhile, the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel would join the investigation into the cockpit attack and examine whether Iran had any involvement, while acknowledging that no such connection had yet been established.

In his tribute on X, Modi wrote: “Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO.” He praised the injured captain’s determination to protect others and wished him a speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.

Netanyahu had earlier saluted Machchhar’s bravery, describing him as a “true hero” and crediting his resistance with helping prevent a catastrophe. His message emphasized that the captain fought back after being stabbed and enabled others to overpower the alleged attacker.

The appreciation extended to Machchhar’s former employer, SpiceJet, which praised his courage and selfless actions in a social media post. In New Zealand, where he trained, Mainland Air’s chief executive, Philip Kean, said the school was proud of its former student and wished him a speedy recovery.

India’s external affairs ministry also commended the captain, with its spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, saying his courage despite grave injuries had saved lives. The Indian embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah said they were monitoring his treatment, remaining in contact with his family and following up with Saudi authorities.

As RNA Media reported on Wednesday, flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after a violent cockpit confrontation. Israeli officials alleged that the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and attempted to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew restrained him.

Machchhar’s release of the cockpit door provided the opening through which help reached him, according to Israeli accounts of the incident. Other flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and landed it, while passengers continued to Israel on a replacement flight.

The Mumbai-born captain remained in stable condition in a Tabuk hospital, according to Indian officials. His professional profile records approximately 9,750 flying hours and an 11-year career with SpiceJet before he joined flydubai in 2022.

An older interview with Machchhar has also circulated online, bringing renewed attention to his views on flying and passenger safety. Reuters reported that he originally intended to enter his family’s textile business, discovering an interest in aviation at about 19 before training in New Zealand.

Netanyahu leaves Iran question open

In a CNN interview with Jim Sciutto, Netanyahu said the president of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, had agreed to Israeli participation in the investigation. The announcement introduced a possible multinational dimension to an inquiry involving a Dubai-based airline, an aircraft that landed in Saudi Arabia and passengers bound for Israel.

Netanyahu identified the suspect as an Omani national and said he was undergoing interrogation in Saudi Arabia. He expected the suspect to be transferred to the UAE, although the interview did not establish that a transfer had been arranged or completed.

Asked whether Iran was involved, Netanyahu said the questioning could help establish whether a connection existed but declined to attribute the incident to Tehran before investigators reached their conclusions. His remarks therefore raised an investigative question without presenting evidence of Iranian direction, assistance or prior knowledge.

He also acknowledged that Israel had received no specific advance warning about the flydubai incident. Although he cited broader information about possible attacks by Iran’s allies against Israel and Israeli civilians abroad, he did not say that intelligence had identified this flight or the alleged attacker.

Netanyahu again praised Machchhar, the passengers who intervened and the additional pilots, saying their combined actions prevented what he described as a “9/11 disaster”. That comparison conveyed his assessment of the danger, while leaving the suspect’s precise intentions and any wider affiliations to the investigation.

The episode has meanwhile prompted Israel to announce tighter checks on pilots flying into the country, covering Israeli and foreign carriers. Flydubai suspended its Israel services during the investigation and cautioned that the underlying reasons for the incident remained unknown, urging against premature speculation.