Indian Pilot Hailed as Hero in Israel After Foiling Hijacking Attempt

Captain Smit Machar, a Mumbai resident and pilot for Flydubai, is being lauded as a national hero in Israel for his bravery during an attempted hijacking of a Boeing 737. On Wednesday, Machar was severely injured when an attacker assaulted him. Despite his wounds, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers to enter and overpower the assailant as the aircraft rapidly lost altitude. Machar was transferred to a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with his condition reported as stable, according to the Indian Embassy. His family has been updated on his recovery, and he has since been moved to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates for further treatment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machar as a hero, stating on X that "faced with the gravest danger, and despite being severely injured, he displayed immense courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others." Modi added that Machar's "heroism helped save hundreds and prevent a major disaster," likening the averted attack to a "9/11-style incident." He also spoke with Machar's parents and wife, emphasizing that the captain's bravery fills every Indian with pride.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commended Machar on X for his "extraordinary courage," noting that the injured pilot fought back after being stabbed, opened the cockpit door, and helped passengers and crew subdue the attacker, thereby preventing a "catastrophic aerial disaster." Netanyahu stated that Machar "saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and citizens of other countries."

Machar, who is married with two children, previously worked for SpiceJet in India for 11 years, accumulating over 9,750 flight hours. SpiceJet released a statement on X, commending his "heroic courage" and "selfless actions." He underwent flight training in New Zealand and was described by his former instructor as a "very successful" student. Machar himself has spoken about managing stress and handling emergencies in previous interviews, including a past incident where he safely diverted a flight for a passenger experiencing premature labor.

An Israeli dentist from Holon, Shota Musayev, who was on board and treated Machar, recounted how the bleeding captain expressed a desire to live. Musayev managed to stop the bleeding, and Machar's condition stabilized. Neighbors in Machar's hometown of Mumbai also spoke of his calm demeanor and praised his courage, with one neighbor saying, "God is with him."