Modi praises injured captain Smit Machchhar for averting disaster on flydubai flight
Prime Minister Modi met injured captain Smit Machchhar, lauding his actions that prevented a catastrophe on a flydubai flight carrying 180 passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to the United Arab Emirates to speak with Captain Smit Machchhar, who is recuperating after a violent attack by a co-pilot on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. The captain, a former SpiceJet pilot, was stabbed multiple times but managed to open the cockpit door, enabling the aircraft to land safely in Saudi Arabia and preserving the lives of all 180 passengers. Modi praised Machchhar’s calmness, presence of mind and bravery, calling his actions a source of national pride.
Indian ambassador Dipak Mittal, who met the pilot and his family, reported that Machchhar is in stable condition, smiling and recovering well under hospital care. Video released by Israel’s Channel 12 captures the cabin turmoil, including an Israeli dentist providing first aid and passengers confronting the attacker, who is now under interrogation by Israeli authorities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination.
How this was covered
- Coverage peaked at 7 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
The incident shows how individual bravery can prevent mass casualties and highlights ongoing concerns about airline security.
How this story developed
- Sep 30 Netanyahu hails Indian pilot who thwarted alleged flydubai sabotage
- Sep 30 "Every pilot that is going to be flying into Israel, we are going to know the pilots' identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check," Doron Spielman said.
- Oct 1 U.S. President Donald Trump publicly praised the Indian pilot.
- Oct 1 Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia arrested one of the pilots who allegedly tried to crash a FlyDubai flight.
- Oct 1 Israel’s transport minister ordered a six‑day suspension of Flydubai flights to Israel and Emirates halted code‑share operations on those routes.
- Oct 1 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the second pilot who stabbed the captain on a Fly Dubai flight had undergone Islamist radicalisation.
- Oct 1 The Saudi interior ministry said its initial probe indicates the co-pilot on the Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight assaulted the captain.
- Oct 2 The suspect was transferred to United Arab Emirates authorities.
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