Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai flight, is in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a social media post that Mr Machchhar was "admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention".
While a full update on his health was awaited, the mission said he was "reported to be in stable condition" and that it was in touch with his family.
"We hope that he recovers from his injuries at the earliest. We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his well-being," it said.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi spoke by phone with Mr Machchhar's wife and parents on Thursday.
"India's captain Smit used his presence of mind and courage. Today Israel PM also said one Indian helped prevent a 9/11. We are proud of Captain Smit. I spoke to his parents and wife. He is being treated.
“The whole world is proud of him. I urge the nation to pray for Smit's quick recovery," Mr Modi said at an event marking the centenary of India's Union Public Service Commission.
The 39-year-old pilot has become a hero in two countries – Israel where most of the passengers on the FlyDubai flight were from, and India, his home country.
Indian media outlets were seen standing outside the houses of his relatives in Savarkundla, Gujarat. Mr Machchhar’s family was reportedly travelling on Thursday to Saudi Arabia to meet him. His relatives said they were relieved to hear he is stable.
"His courage in saving 174 passengers is truly commendable. He is currently undergoing treatment,” his brother-in-law, Hiren Jogi, told Gujarati journalist Dilip Kshatriya. “We have also spoken with his father-in-law, who is my uncle, to get updates about the incident.”
A former neighbour of Mr Machchhar in Mumbai, Jinat Shah, told the Indian news agency ANI: "Smit Machchhar is a talented, soft spoken, kind-hearted and a person with good nature. He is an incredible person, and I hope for his fast recovery."
Mr Machchhar trained as a pilot in Dunedin, in New Zealand, arriving in the city aged about 19. His flight instructor at the time, Philip Kean, now chief executive of Mainland Air in Dunedin, told CNN: "He was always sort of a jovial young man and he tried hard."
Describing a group photograph from that period, Mr Kean said Mr Machchhar stood out: "He definitely got a smile of his own… he's sort of a happy, happy chap."
Tributes to Mr Machchhar have come from across India's political spectrum.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said: "Putting his own life on the line, he upheld the highest traditions of duty and service, helping protect the lives of everyone on board."
Speaker of India’s lower house, Om Birla, called him "truly a hero". Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X: "I salute Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, the crew, and all who showed extraordinary courage and presence of mind under attack, helping save precious lives."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier called Mr Machchhar a "true hero".
"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster," he said.
Mr Machchhar was stabbed in the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board on Wednesday, after his co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, attacked him and sent the aircraft plunging nearly 14,000ft in under 30 seconds.
Covered in blood on the cockpit floor, Mr Machchhar drew on "the last moments of his energy" to activate the release on the cockpit door, the Times of Israel reported, citing Mr Netanyahu's spokesperson, Doron Spielman.
This allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, and enabled a second pair of off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling on board to land the aircraft safely in Tabuk. Passengers reached Israel safely later on Wednesday. Saudi authorities are investigating the incident.
