flydubai captain Smit Machchhar’s journey from nervous pilot to cockpit ‘hero’

The latest market report highlights that Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai commander whose actions after being stabbed in the cockpit helped avert disaster, hadn’t even scheduled on becoming a pilot.

He was working for his family’s textile business in India when inspiration struck.

“Becoming a pilot was not first choice, and it only changed after attending an aviation conference,” Machchhar stated in a YouTube podcast in October 2025, where he recalled being nervous in his first flight when he was under probation. “Relaxing would have been the best option. Stressing is not gonna help in this industry.”

Now he’s being hailed by leaders around the world for his bravery and quick thinking during a midair struggle with his crewmate that sent the Boeing Co. 737 Max aircraft into a sudden, deep dive.

Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO.

In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he revealed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.

His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.

India is proud of Captain Machchhar.

Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed resilience and good health.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 1, 2026

US President Donald Trump, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a hero for fighting back despite his stab wounds and opening the cockpit door to the cabin. That allowed passengers on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight to rush in, subdue the attacker and take control after the plane plunged more than 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) within 30 seconds at almost the speed of sound.

The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia stated in a statement posted on X that Machchhar had been admitted to a hospital in Tabuk in northwest Saudi Arabia and was “receiving necessary medical attention. A full update on his health is awaited but he is noted to be in stable condition.”

Machchhar has his origins in Modi’s home state of Gujarat and hails from Mumbai, India’s financial capital. He flew for SpiceJet Ltd. before leaving for FlyDubai in 2022.

Machchhar has been flying Boeing single-aisle jets for around 16 years and has clocked 9,750 hours of flying, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He did his commercial pilot license training in New Zealand and flew his first commercial flight between Bengaluru in southern India and New Delhi.

“I was scared to fly that first commercial flight not because of the flight but because it was my training flight,” Machchhar stated in the podcast Bona-Fide Bantar.

His pilot colleagues stated he at present lives in Dubai with his wife and children and has a brother, who is a pilot with India’s Akasa Air.

While FlyDubai confirmed that an altercation occurred between pilots in the flight deck, it didn’t comment on the reasons for the fight and urged parties to refrain from speculation.

In the meantime, Modi has spoken to Machchhar’s parents and wife, and assured them that Indian missions abroad are providing all possible help, according to a senior Indian government official, who shared this with reporters in a text message.