Indian prevented 9/11-style attack: PM Modi praises Capt Smit Machchhar's courage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed Captain Smit Machchhar as a "hero", saying the Indian pilot's courage and presence of mind helped avert what could have been a "9/11-style tragedy" and save the lives of 174 people onboard a Flydubai flight.

"Captain Smit Machchhar is a hero," PM Modi said in a post on X.

"In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy," the Prime Minister said.

"India is proud of Captain Machchhar. Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health," he added.

Hours after his post on X, PM Modi again praised Machchhar while speaking at the Union Public Service Commission's centenary celebrations in Delhi. He said the Indian pilot's courage and presence of mind helped prevent a "9/11-style tragedy".

PM Modi has also spoken to the wife and parents of Captain Smit Machchhar, government sources said.

During the conversation, PM Modi hailed Captain Machchhar’s bravery, which saved hundreds of lives. He also stressed that Indian missions are providing all possible help, the sources said.

Captain Machchhar, an Indian national, has also been praised as a hero by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he fought off a knife attack from the co-pilot and managed to open the cockpit door and call for help, foiling an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft.

Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, "The pilot was in very bad shape; I guess he still is in very bad shape, but he had the sense to, amazing, to, in a way he was a hero," Trump said while recounting his conversation with Netanyahu.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving passengers after he was stabbed by his colleague.

Passengers on the flight reached Israel safely on Wednesday after customers and crew foiled the co-pilot’s attempt to crash the aircraft, Israeli officials said.

The struggle began when the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds.

Machchhar was covered with blood on the floor when he managed to click the release to open the cockpit door, a spokesperson for Netanyahu told the news agency Reuters. This allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enabled a second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board to land the jet in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was receiving necessary medical attention at a hospital in the northwestern city of Tabuk and that they were in touch with his family and Saudi authorities to extend all possible help.

The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was reported to be stable in a post on X.

Machchhar, who hails from Mumbai, underwent surgery after the incident, the Hindustan Times reported.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar worked with India’s SpiceJet airline for more than 11 years before joining flydubai.

The cause of the incident between the pilots remained unclear. Flydubai said in a statement that the underlying reasons for the incident remained unknown and warned against “premature speculation”. The airline also suspended flights to and from Israel amid an investigation.

Netanyahu described the event as “a highly severe security incident” and said Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot of flydubai FZ1073, which had been en route from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.