India’s PM Modi Hails Flydubai Pilot’s ‘Highest Form of Courage’

India’s prime minister praised the captain credited with helping protect 174 passengers aboard a FlyDubai flight, saying the pilot had demonstrated “the highest form of courage” after being attacked in the air.

Narendra Modi said Thursday that Capt. Smit Machchhar had acted “without fearing for his own life” and “fought valiantly” to stop what he described as a potential attack resembling 9/11. FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 was forced to divert and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.

Modi said India was saluting Machchhar and praying for his recovery. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that the pilot was in stable condition after being transported to a hospital.

The Israel Foreign Ministry said Capt. Machchhar, the Indian commander of FlyDubai Flight 1073, fought back after allegedly being stabbed inside the cockpit. Although seriously wounded, he reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, enabling Israeli passengers and members of the Emirati crew to enter and restrain the co-pilot, helping ensure the safety of everyone aboard.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, said Wednesday that there was “no doubt” the pilot who allegedly attacked Machchhar intended to crash the aircraft. He called the plane’s safe landing in Saudi Arabia a miracle.

“We have no doubt that it was a terror attack by a radical individual,” Danon said during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

He added that authorities believed the attacker intended to bring down the aircraft and said he was grateful the passengers survived.

Following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, a second FlyDubai aircraft was sent to transport the passengers onward to Tel Aviv.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had spoken at length with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. Trump said the co-pilot may have been a terrorist or someone suffering from serious mental instability before allegedly attacking the captain.

According to The Associated Press, Machchhar’s LinkedIn profile indicates that he has been employed by FlyDubai for approximately four years.

The Mumbai native previously spent 11 years at Indian budget airline SpiceJet, working as a senior commander and line-training captain. His profile lists more than 9,750 flight hours with the carrier.

SpiceJet praised Machchhar on X for his “heroic courage” and “selfless actions.”

“You are a hero to us all, Captain,” the airline said in its message.

Machchhar is married and has two children. He began his pilot training in 2008 at Mainland Air in Dunedin, New Zealand, completing an 18-month program, according to school director Philip Kean, who spoke with 1News.

Shota Musayev, a dentist who witnessed the incident, told The Associated Press that the injured captain was able to unlock the cockpit and allow passengers inside. They then struggled with the co-pilot and subdued him.

Musayev later provided medical assistance to Machchhar.

“Poor pilot, he was just praying the whole time and was in contact with me, and I was afraid we would really lose him,” Musayev said.

News Outlet’s Michael Sinkewicz, Stepheny Price and The Associated Press contributed to this post.