Smit Machchhar

Smit Machchhar
Born	1987/1988 (age 38–39) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Education	Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research Mainland Air Flight School
Occupation	Commercial pilot
Years active	2008–present
Known for	Captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073
Spouse(s)	Sonal Machchhar
Children	2
Honours	Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award Smit Machchhar Bravery Award

Smit Machchhar is an Indian commercial airline pilot and captain with Flydubai. He previously worked for SpiceJet, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain. He joined flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain and has flown Boeing 737 aircraft.

On 30 September 2026, Machchhar was the captain of Flydubai Flight 1073, which was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an altercation between the two pilots during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, 29-year-old Omani national Hamam al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, causing it to plunge over 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Despite his injuries, Machchhar fought back and, while lying on the cockpit floor, managed to unlock the sealed cockpit door. This action allowed passengers and crew to enter the cockpit; four Israeli passengers rushed in, overpowered Al-Hammami using a chokehold, headphone cords, and zip ties, and administered first aid to Machchhar. The UAE Attorney General later confirmed that al-Hammami had "begun to carry out a terrorist act" and that the investigation was examining whether the attack involved prior planning or direction.

Al-Hammami had previously been flagged as a security risk while working at Oman Air in 2024, where extremist materials were discovered in his possession, and he was subsequently removed from flight training. Despite these concerns, he was later hired by Flydubai and assigned to flights connecting the UAE and Israel.

Early life and education

Smit Machchhar in flight

Machchhar is of Gujarati origin and is from Mumbai.

He studied business administration at the Welingkar Institute of Management from June 2007 to April 2008 and received a bachelor's degree in the subject.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he went on to build more than 13 years of commercial flying experience on the Boeing 737 fleet, with over 9,750 flying hours. He initially planned to join his family's textile business and pursued a management degree to help grow the business. It was while studying for a management degree that he came across an aviation seminar. "That is where the aviation bug bit me," he said on a podcast. He said his mother had been reluctant to accept his career; "My mom was scared," he told the podcast host. "Because aviation today and aviation 15-17 years ago was completely different. You did not hear of a lot of people becoming pilots."

He trained as a pilot in New Zealand before joining SpiceJet. In the podcast, Machchhar recalled that his training cost around Rs 16-17 lakh and that his father was more accepting of the career choice.

Flying career

Machchhar joined SpiceJet in June 2011 and worked for the airline for about 11 years. He was based in Mumbai and became a senior commander. In November 2020, he became a line training captain, a position in which he trained and checked other pilots.

His work at SpiceJet included pilot training and mentoring, pilot assessment, crew resource management, flight standards and compliance, and operations involving Boeing 737 aircraft. During his time at SpiceJet, Machchhar logged more than 9,500 hours of flying, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot in command.

Machchhar joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. He has flown the airline's Boeing 737 fleet, including the 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9. By September 2026, his flying experience was reported as about 9,750 hours and more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience.

Machchhar's work has included mentoring and assessing pilots, with responsibilities related to flight standards, compliance and operations. He had also expressed an interest in moving into pilot training at flydubai.

Flydubai Flight 1073 incident

Main article: Flydubai Flight 1073

On 30 September 2026, Machchhar was the pilot in command of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The aircraft was registered as A6-FKF.

More than two hours into the flight, an altercation occurred between Machchhar and Hamam al-Hammami in the flight deck. The aircraft subsequently transmitted emergency signals and entered a rapid descent. Flight-tracking data reported that it lost about 14,300 feet in 37 seconds, falling from an altitude of about 34,000 feet before the aircraft diverted towards Saudi Arabia. The aircraft made a sudden and extreme dive from over 30,000 feet to 15,000 feet at a speed approaching 1,000 kilometres per hour. The aircraft initially transmitted the international emergency transponder code 7700 and subsequently transmitted 7500, the code associated with unlawful interference. Machchhar was stabbed during the confrontation. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Both pilots were taken to hospital after the landing, and Machchhar underwent surgery for his injuries. He was later reported to be in stable condition.

The other pilot was identified as an Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Israeli officials said that he attacked Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft. According to accounts reported by Reuters and the Associated Press, passengers and a crew member entered the cockpit after the aircraft began its rapid descent and subdued the other pilot. Other pilots travelling on the flight subsequently helped operate the aircraft until it landed in Tabuk. Reports from the incident said that Machchhar, despite his injuries, helped regain access to the cockpit after the confrontation. Passengers and crew members then helped restrain the other pilot. The sequence of events inside the cockpit was not immediately established in full.

In a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar described how he opened the cockpit door despite his injuries:

“I had suffered so many injuries that I had collapsed. At that time, I could feel that the aircraft was going down. I knew this was the last push, that the door was right there. I was being hit even then, but I just opened the door and everyone came in. In that moment, I was fighting for my life. But there was a moment then when I realised that if I didn't do something … I had fallen down, I had so many injuries but I thought then if I don't get up … I had been flying for 17 years, I have been captain for the last 11 years. With my eyes closed, I know what is happening in the plane. I had fallen but I realised, understood, that the aircraft was going down. I thought, 'Smit, you need to do something, you need to give one last push. The door is just there.' I was in a lot of pain but I just opened it and the others came in. I was telling everyone that I was doing it to save my own life, but I also knew that I could not let the others die either. Everyone else had as much of a role in this as well.”

— Captain Smit Machchhar, 2 October 2026

A US Senator and FAA commercial pilot, Tim Sheehy, told Fox News that Machchhar may have used the aircraft's transponder to alert air traffic controllers while fighting off the co-pilot, effectively sending an emergency signal. According to an Israeli passenger's account, the attacker was trying to push the wounded pilot out of the cockpit to take control alone. Israeli passengers sitting near the front rushed toward the struggle. The men who could fly the plane had frozen, and the passenger had to shake them to get them to move to the front and take control. An Israeli dentist on board treated the wounded pilot. The passenger said the pilot was gravely injured and credited the dentist with saving his life. Passengers used charging cables to restrain the attacker. Flydubai described the event as an incident that occurred while the aircraft was en route and said that the circumstances were subject to investigation.

Israeli officials subsequently said that they were investigating the possibility that the other pilot had deliberately attempted to crash the aircraft. An Israeli official initially told Reuters that the incident was not believed to be a conventional hijacking. The motive for the confrontation remained unclear in the initial investigation. An initial investigation of the flight data raised a strong suspicion that one of the flight crew members attempted to commit suicide and crash the plane, according to Israeli media. The plane, which had about 180 Israeli citizens on board, made an extreme and dangerous dive from a cruising altitude of over 30,000 feet to about 15,000 feet at a tremendous speed that approached the speed of sound – close to 1,000 kilometres per hour. The data from the MAX 8 aircraft's monitoring and tracking systems also present an unusually intense picture. During the cruise phase, at an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet, a sudden and vertical descent was recorded at an unimaginable dive rate that peaked at approximately 30,976 feet per minute, alongside a ground speed that exceeded 500 knots- approximately 930 kilometres per hour. During those critical seconds, the engines and rudders were pushed into action, which meant "deliberately crashing the plane into the ground". The report added that the second pilot recognised the attempt to commit suicide-murder, jumped on his cabin mate and began a physical struggle for control of the stick and rudders. It was then that he sent distress signals 7700 and 7500. The flight diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk. Both pilots were hospitalised in Saudi Arabia, and Machchhar underwent surgery for his injuries. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said that he was receiving treatment in Tabuk and was in stable condition.

On 3 October 2026, the UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, announced that the investigation had revealed that al-Hammami had "begun to carry out a terrorist act" and had attacked the captain with the cockpit's emergency crash axe. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) cautioned against speculation and confirmed that the investigation was continuing in coordination with regional and international authorities. Flydubai temporarily suspended its operations to Tel Aviv at the request of the authorities while the investigation continued. The co-pilot was extradited from Saudi Arabia to the UAE to face a terrorism investigation.

Passengers were later flown to Israel on a replacement Flydubai aircraft. Passengers described the ordeal as "very terrifying". One passenger said for a moment he felt like he was "not among the living". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently described Machchhar as a "true hero" and said that he had saved 174 lives. The comments were made while the circumstances of the incident were still under investigation.

The aircraft carried more than 170 passengers and crew members. All passengers and crew were accounted for after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

Aftermath and reactions

Machchhar's actions drew widespread praise from leaders and officials. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a "HERO," stating: "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. India is proud of Captain Machchhar." Modi also spoke to Machchhar's wife and parents, commending his bravery and assuring the family that Indian missions were coordinating with local authorities to support them. In a video call with PM Modi, Machchhar recounted his experience, stating he made "one last push" to open the cockpit door after being attacked, realizing that staying down meant certain death.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Machchhar as a "true hero," saying he "saved the lives of 174 people" and prevented "a catastrophic mid-air disaster." Netanyahu added: "Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker."

U.S. President Donald Trump also hailed Machchhar as a hero for fighting off the knife attack and calling for help to foil the bid to crash the aircraft.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Captain Machchhar, saying: "To Captain Smith Machchhar - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you." Herzog also announced his intention to recommend the President's Medal for Civilian Bravery for four Israeli passengers who displayed "extraordinary courage" during the incident.

SpiceJet CEO Ajay Singh praised Machchhar, saying the airline was "incredibly proud" of him and that he had done his job in an "exemplary and brave manner." SpiceJet issued a statement calling Machchhar a "hero" who had saved "countless lives."

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said it was closely monitoring Machchhar's health and was in touch with his family and Saudi authorities to extend all possible assistance. After receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical attention and recovery. India's Ambassador to the UAE, Dr Deepak Mittal, met Machchhar and his family in Abu Dhabi and reported that the pilot was in "good spirits," speaking openly, smiling, and laughing. Machchhar sustained multiple injuries to his limbs, chest, and upper abdominal area and was admitted to a military hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he was closely monitored by a specialized team of doctors and showed positive signs of recovery.

Personal life

Machchhar is known to keep his aviation career separate from his personal life. In his 2025 podcast interview, he said, "When I get out of the cockpit or the aircraft, I don't want the other guy to know that I'm a pilot. I don't want to discuss aviation... The kids are there. They want to play with you." He has spoken about the importance of work-life balance and spending time with family. He has also detailed challenges he faced in the air, including when a passenger went into early labour and the crew worked together to ensure the baby was born safely. He credited senior pilots with teaching him how to face stressful situations.

A doctor-friend of Machchhar, Dr Jinit Shah, described him as a "tremendously talented person from the very beginning... an extremely pure-hearted person and soft-spoken. He is a fast decision-maker and that is why I think it helped him yesterday." Dr Shah said although he was not much in touch with Machchhar, he continued to know him for the person he is. "He is a very experienced pilot and has been flying for 15 years. His experience also helped him yesterday," he said.

Machchhar has family in Surat, Gujarat, but he is from Ghatkopar, Mumbai. His family owns and operates a conventional textile company. He has a brother who is also a pilot and recently joined flydubai. He moved to Dubai with his family around two to three years ago.

See also

• Pan Am Flight 73
  • Neerja Bhanot – Indian flight attendant, a recipient of Ashoka Chakra and Nishan-e-Pakistan