The captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, who was injured in an altercation inside the cockpit on Wednesday, September 30, is an Indian national. In a statement posted on X, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said the pilot had been admitted to a hospital in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia, and was receiving the necessary treatment. According to the embassy, initial reports indicated that his condition was stable.

The embassy added that, together with the Indian Consulate General in Jeddah, it was closely monitoring the condition of Captain Smith Machhar and awaiting a more detailed medical update. The diplomatic mission described Machhar as a “brave” pilot and wished him a speedy recovery. It also said it was in contact with his family, continuing to follow up with Saudi authorities and providing all possible assistance to support his well-being. Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS reported that Machhar had undergone surgery at the hospital.

According to Machhar’s LinkedIn profile, he worked as a pilot for Indian airline SpiceJet for more than 11 years before joining flydubai in June 2022. The profile also indicates that he has logged nearly 9,750 flight hours on Boeing 737 aircraft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Machhar as a “true hero” hours before the Indian Embassy issued its statement. Netanyahu said the pilot, despite being seriously wounded in a knife attack, resisted the assailant and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to restrain the attacker. He said Machhar’s actions saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and nationals of other countries. Netanyahu wished him a swift and full recovery.

Flydubai has not officially released the names of the crew members on the flight. The airline is expected to issue a statement after reviewing the cockpit voice recorder. Israeli authorities have identified the attacker as the flight’s co-pilot and an Omani national.