FlyDubai pilot hailed as hero for saving passengers

MUMBAI, India (NBC, KYMA) - The leaders of Israel and India hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a hero for saving passengers after he was stabbed by his colleague in an alleged attempt to crash a FlyDubai plane Wednesday.

Machchhar's photo was shared by the Israel Foreign Ministry on X, with a caption saying, "Despite being severely injured, he managed to unlock the cockpit door - allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save all the passengers."

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

The struggle began when he stabbed the pilot and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet 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 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

That allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enable 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 is receiving necessary medical attention in a hospital in the Northwestern city of Tabuk, and they are in touch with his family and Saudi authorities to extend all possible help.

Media members gathered to film the family home belonging to the pilot in Mumbai Thursday.

He was described as an incredible person by his former neighbors who said Machchhar had moved to Dubai around three years ago.