Indian pilot hailed as hero after Flydubai cockpit attack

In October 2026, an Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, was stabbed during an attack in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He fought off his co-pilot and saved the plane. An Israeli plumber and a dentist helped him. India's Prime Minister Modi said India is proud of Captain Machchhar and hoped for his speedy recovery.