'An Indian Prevented 9/11-Like Tragedy': PM Modi Praises Flydubai's 'Hero' Pilot Smit Machchhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for resisting a knife attack on a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight and helping avert what could have been a major tragedy.

Speaking at the Centenary Celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), PM Modi said: “An Indian prevented a 9/11-style tragedy”.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “… The incident that occurred yesterday, Captain Smit of India demonstrated remarkable patience, presence of mind, and courage; indeed, as the Prime Minister of Israel stated today, an Indian prevented a 9/11-style tragedy.”… https://t.co/mirnEuyxzs pic.twitter.com/Q3JyfmnhOc

— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2026

“… The incident that occurred yesterday, Captain Smit of

India demonstrated remarkable patience, presence of mind, and courage; indeed, as the Prime Minister of Israel stated today, an Indian prevented a 9/11-like tragedy.”

Prime Minister Modi recalled his conversation with Machchhar’s family, stating that the entire world is proud of him.

“… This feat by Smit fills us with pride. Today, I also spoke with his father, Bhupendra; his mother, Gita; and his wife, Sonal. He is currently undergoing treatment. Today, the entire world is proud of him. I urge my fellow citizens to pray for Smit’s long life and excellent health, and to salute Smit, who has brought glory to India…”

PM Modi stressed that the service of the citizen is paramount. “Our mantra is… Citizen is God. Meaning, the citizen of the country is no less than a deity to us. For us, the service of the citizen is paramount”.

What Happened On Flydubai Plane?

The incident began with a knife attack on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar by his co-pilot, who is yet to named. The incident transmitted an emergency as well as a ‘hijack alert’, prompting Israeli authorities to scramble jets to rescue the passengers.

The flight was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 passengers. However, it was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the attack.

Despite sustaining grave injuries, Machchhar fought back and managed to open the door of the cockpit, allowing other passengers to gain entry and helping restrain the attacker.

While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, Israeli authorities are treating the incident as a terrorist attack and an investigation is currently underway.