Pilot who helped save hijacked plane identified as Indian Smit Machchhar

‘Hero’ pilot who helped save hijacked plane identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar

Published September 30, 2026 4:08pm ET Updated September 30, 2026 4:08pm ET

The pilot who unlocked the cockpit door of a hijacked Flydubai flight after getting stabbed to allow passengers to storm the cockpit was identified by officials as Indian national Smit Machchhar.

Machchhar was first identified in Indian media, which was followed by a confirmation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. In a post on X, the prime minister wished him a “speedy and full recovery,” and hailed him as a “true hero.”