Honoring a hero: flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar chose courage and saved lives

Just recently, we saw a miracle in the sky.

The attempted hijacking of an aeroplane was thwarted thanks to the bravery of the pilot and the passengers on board.

It is something movies are made of, and perhaps in the future, a movie will emerge.

This was a potentially huge disaster. It would have left Israelis mourning again over a Jewish holiday.

But a miracle took place.

Part of the miracle was Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot.

It is wonderful that Israel and India have such a great relationship. And I've noticed that Netanyahu and Modi are great friends.

I just read on ALL ISRAEL NEWS that Israeli President Isaac Herzog wants to honor Captain Smit Machchhar.

In a public statement over the weekend, Herzog said, “Once Captain Machchhar regains strength, it will be my honor to award him, on behalf of the people of Israel, the State of Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.”

Herzog also announced that he had sent a formal letter to Machchhar “expressing the deep gratitude of the State of Israel for his exceptional courage and determination in steering the flydubai aircraft to safety and averting catastrophe for the passengers on board the flight on September 30, 2026.”

A well-deserved honor. The captain, through his own pain, managed to open the cockpit door and help save the plane, which saved many lives.

It is so refreshing in our time to see people wanting to save Jews.

Around the world, we have seen mobs going out on the streets chanting hate toward Israel and Jews, yet one man who is not Jewish, with the help of passengers, saved the lives of Jews.

These sorts of heroes stick out a mile, and many over the years have been honored as Righteous Among the Nations.

The Holocaust was such a time when you could either turn against the Jews or make a stand.

Today, we know many names of those who stood against the mood of the day and chose humanity and chose to save Jews. They stand out today as heroes who went against the times, Oskar Schindler being probably the most famous.

Captain Smit Machchhar is not alone. History proclaims Gentiles who have helped the Jews. We also know that Jews on this flight helped too.

This reminds me of Mordechai in the Book of Esther.

There was an antisemitic enemy. That was the mood around Mordechai, just like today around the world.

Mordechai uncovered a plot to assassinate King Xerxes. The plot was told to Queen Esther, and in turn, she reported it to the king, giving Mordechai the credit.

The plot was exposed, the evil men were executed, and the king rewarded Mordechai. Of course, we know Haman thought he was being rewarded. His hatred for the Jews was also exposed, and he was executed on his own gallows. But Mordechai was rewarded for his loyalty to the king.

Esther 6:6-9

So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”

Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ” NKJV

Mordechai also had a part to play in saving the Jewish people by being a counsel to Queen Esther.

As Christians today, we can show love and support for the Jewish people wherever we are around the world. Instead of Jews hearing “baby killers” or “from the river to the sea,” let us approach Jews we see on the street and tell them that we love them and care for them. Show them love and not hate. Be an example of the love of Christ to them.

We can act in a different spirit and bless the Jews.

May Captain Smit Machchhar be honored in the same way Mordechai was honored.