Eknath Shinde Praises Captain Smit Machchhar for Courage During Flydubai Cockpit Attack

Speaking to IANS, Shinde said Machchhar had put his own life at risk while attempting to prevent the aircraft from being taken over during the September 30 incident.

Shinde described Machchhar's actions as an extraordinary display of courage and said the pilot's efforts to protect 174 people aboard the aircraft were a matter of pride for Maharashtra and the country.

The Deputy Chief Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being among the first to recognise Machchhar's actions and congratulate him following the incident.

The episode occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737-8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. During the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden and severe loss of altitude after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit. The plane subsequently diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. According to reports, the plane dropped more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the emergency, before control was restored and the aircraft was safely diverted.

Machchhar was seriously injured during the confrontation. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. Two other pilots subsequently helped bring the aircraft under control and land it safely in Saudi Arabia.

Videos and photographs circulated after the incident showed Machchhar injured and wearing an oxygen mask inside the aircraft. He was subsequently taken to hospital and has been reported to be recovering.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also publicly praised Machchhar following the incident. In a later conversation with the injured pilot, Machchhar described the attack and the struggle to regain access to the cockpit door.

Machchhar, who is in his mid-30s, has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and has accumulated over 9,500 flying hours. He joined Flydubai in June 2022 after spending more than a decade with SpiceJet in India, where he also served as a Line Training Captain.

His response during the emergency has drawn widespread appreciation from colleagues, friends and members of his community, with several describing him as instrumental in helping prevent a potentially catastrophic outcome.

The co-pilot involved in the incident has been identified in multiple reports as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the attack, including the motive and whether it was connected to any wider extremist activity. The UAE has described the incident as a terrorist act, while investigations involving authorities in several countries remain underway.