Indian Pilot Smith Matshar Hailed for Foiling Flydubai Hijacking

Captain Smith Matshar, an Indian pilot for Flydubai, is being lauded for his bravery after intervening in an attempted hijacking of a flight. Matshar, 39, a father of two, reportedly fought off the co-pilot with his bare hands while injured. The incident occurred when the co-pilot, identified as Omani, attacked Matshar in the cockpit with a knife as the plane was descending. Matshar managed to press the button to open the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers and additional crew members to enter and subdue the co-pilot, thereby preventing a crash. Over 170 passengers were on board.

Matshar, who has 15 years of commercial flight experience, previously worked for SpiceJet before joining Flydubai in 2022. Friends and colleagues describe him as a talented and kind-hearted pilot who enjoys cricket. He underwent emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia and has since been transferred to Dubai for further medical treatment, where his condition is reported as good.

Expressions of gratitude and admiration for Matshar's actions have come from international leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. President Donald Trump also praised his courage. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar specifically thanked Matshar in an interview with Indian television.

One of the Israeli passengers who entered the cockpit, Yaniv Hayoun, stated, "If we hadn't succeeded in entering the cockpit, we would all, even my family, have died." In Israel, there are already proposals to honor Matshar with the lighting of a torch on the upcoming Independence Day in recognition of his exceptional bravery.