US, Israeli and Indian leaders have praised Captain Smit Machhar, the Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, calling him a “hero”. Witnesses and Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed Machhar on Wednesday, September 30, during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. International media are now reporting on the life of a pilot who was largely unknown to the public before the incident.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machhar a “hero” in a post on X on Thursday, October 1. He said the pilot had shown “extraordinary courage and unwavering resolve” to protect others despite facing grave danger and suffering serious injuries. Modi said Machhar’s bravery saved hundreds of lives and prevented a major disaster, adding that India was proud of him.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier praised Machhar’s “extraordinary courage” and called him “a true hero”. Netanyahu said the pilot resisted the attacker despite being seriously wounded and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the assailant. He said Machhar saved 174 lives. Israeli officials said the co-pilot had intended to crash the aircraft, but his motive has not yet been officially disclosed.

US President Donald Trump also called Machhar a “hero” while speaking to reporters at the White House. He said that, based on an account he had heard from Netanyahu, the captain managed to open the cockpit door and call for help despite his serious injuries. Trump added that he did not know whether every detail of the account was accurate. Reuters reported that two flydubai pilots travelling as passengers on the flight helped land the aircraft.

Machhar is from Mumbai and lives in Dubai with his family. According to Reuters, becoming a pilot was not initially part of his life plan. He studied textile engineering to join his family’s textile business before pursuing management studies in Mumbai. In a 2025 interview, Machhar said he developed an interest in flying at an aviation conference when he was about 19, although his mother was initially concerned about his choice.

He completed his pilot training in New Zealand and joined Indian airline SpiceJet. Machhar spent 11 years with the carrier, rising to the rank of training captain and instructing junior pilots. He joined flydubai in 2022 and has logged nearly 9,750 flight hours on the Boeing 737. Following the incident, SpiceJet praised its former pilot for his “heroic courage”.

In the same interview, Machhar spoke about flights that had been diverted because of medical emergencies, as well as those delayed by seemingly minor technical issues. He said: “A delay is not my concern. All that matters is that passengers leave the aircraft safely.” Machhar also said that when he puts on his uniform, he focuses solely on doing his job, and that once he leaves the cockpit, he does not want to talk about aviation.

Machhar is being treated at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh has said his condition is stable. An investigation into what happened in the cockpit of flight FZ1073 is continuing, and flydubai said it is cooperating with the relevant authorities.