Israel envoy hails Capt Smit Machchhar as symbol of India-Israel counter-terror unity
Synopsis
An Indian pilot's mid-air heroism on flydubai flight FZ1073 — overpowering a co-pilot who tried to sabotage the aircraft at 34,000 feet — has drawn praise from Israel's Ambassador to India, who called it an 'amazing example' of how ordinary people, not just governments, must stand against terrorism. With 180 lives reportedly saved, the incident is reshaping the India-Israel counter-terror conversation.
Key Takeaways
Israel's Ambassador Reuven Azar praised Captain Smit Machchhar on 1 October 2026 for his role in averting a mid-air sabotage on flydubai flight FZ1073 .
The co-pilot reportedly attempted to sabotage the Boeing 737 and stabbed Machchhar; the aircraft dropped from approximately 34,000 feet to 15,600 feet at roughly 23,000 feet per minute .
Machchhar fought back, opened the cockpit door, and allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, reportedly saving 180 lives .
Azar said India-Israel counter-terrorism agencies remain in constant dialogue; he was not aware of direct communication between PM Modi and PM Netanyahu on the incident.
The ambassador posted on X calling Machchhar an 'experienced and gifted hero Indian pilot' and declared 'United against terrorism.'
Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Thursday, 1 October 2026, praised Captain Smit Machchhar — the Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 — for his courage in averting a mid-air sabotage attempt, calling it an 'amazing example' of how the people of India and Israel can fight terrorism together. Machchhar was injured during the incident but is receiving medical care.
What Azar Said
In an interview, Azar described the episode as a defining moment for people-to-people counter-terrorism cooperation. 'We know that in order to fight terrorism, it is not enough for governments to work together. It is essential that people work together as well, as we saw yesterday. I think this is an amazing example of how we can determine our destiny by being involved, by not surrendering to terrorists and by working together at a personal level. And this is exactly what happened yesterday,' he said.
The ambassador earlier posted on X: 'Together with Israel, India, UAE, I pray for the life of Captain Smit Machchhar, the experienced and gifted hero Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073. His courage and the courage of other Israeli and Emirati passengers and crew members saved the lives of 180 souls.' He also posted a declaration: 'United against terrorism.'
How the Crisis Unfolded
On Wednesday, the co-pilot of the flydubai Boeing 737, which was carrying over 170 passengers, reportedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft and subsequently stabbed Captain Machchhar when the pilot tried to stop him. At the time, the aircraft was cruising at approximately 34,000 feet and began dropping at roughly 23,000 feet per minute, descending to about 15,600 feet. Machchhar reportedly fought back the co-pilot, resisted the attack, and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the assailant.
India-Israel Counter-Terror Ties
When asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken about the incident, Azar said he was not aware of any direct communication between the two leaders at that point. However, he underscored that institutional ties remain firm. 'Our counter-terrorism agencies are in constant dialogue, and I'm sure that whether it is at the highest level, or at the medium and operational levels, we will share information and continue working together,' he said.
This comes amid an already close security partnership between India and Israel, built over decades of defence cooperation and intelligence sharing. The incident has brought renewed attention to aviation security protocols and the role of crew members in thwarting in-flight threats.
What Comes Next
Azar said he was praying for Captain Machchhar's full recovery, describing him as 'an experienced and gifted pilot.' The incident is expected to prompt a review of cockpit-access and crew-screening procedures by aviation regulators across the region. All eyes are now on whether the Modi and Netanyahu governments will formally address the episode at a diplomatic level in the coming days.
Point of View
Not just a goodwill gesture. It reaffirms how deeply India and Israel have aligned their security narratives, particularly as both face asymmetric threats. Notably, the absence — at least so far — of a Modi-Netanyahu phone call on this incident suggests that institutional channels, not political optics, are carrying the weight of the relationship. The bigger question mainstream coverage may miss is the systemic one: how a co-pilot on a commercial flight could allegedly attempt sabotage at cruising altitude points to gaps in crew screening that go well beyond any bilateral relationship.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar and what did he do?
Captain Smit Machchhar is the Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 who reportedly fought off a co-pilot attempting to sabotage the aircraft on Wednesday. He was stabbed during the struggle but managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker and avert a potential catastrophe.
What happened on flydubai flight FZ1073?
The co-pilot of the Boeing 737, which was carrying over 170 passengers, allegedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft. The plane dropped from approximately 34,000 feet to around 15,600 feet at roughly 23,000 feet per minute before the situation was brought under control. Captain Machchhar was stabbed while resisting the co-pilot, but the crew and passengers ultimately overpowered the attacker.
Why did Israel's ambassador comment on the flydubai incident?
Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, commented because the incident reportedly involved Israeli and Emirati passengers and crew alongside the Indian pilot, making it a multi-national counter-terrorism moment. He called it an 'amazing example' of India and Israel fighting terrorism together at the people level, not just the government level.
Have PM Modi and PM Netanyahu spoken about the FZ1073 incident?
As of Ambassador Azar's remarks on 1 October 2026, he said he was not aware of any direct conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the incident. However, he confirmed that the two nations' counter-terrorism agencies remain in constant dialogue.
What is the broader significance of this incident for India-Israel relations?
The incident has reinforced the narrative of India-Israel counter-terrorism cooperation, with Ambassador Azar framing civilian heroism as an extension of state-level security partnerships. It is also likely to prompt aviation regulators across the region to review cockpit-access and crew-screening protocols.
