Did you hear about the Indian pilot who saved 174 lives from perishing aboard the Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv? On September 30, 2026, Captain Smit Machchhar was flying 174 passengers on board when his co-pilot attacked him with a knife in an apparent hijacking and crash attempt. In seconds, the aircraft plummeted more than 17,000 feet during the mid-air struggle.
Despite being severely wounded and lying on the cockpit floor, Machchhar made a push to press the electronic release button from the inside. He succeeded.
Opening the door allowed crew members and passengers to rush inside, overpower the attacker, and enable off-duty pilots to regain control of the plane, which made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was hospitalized for his wounds and hailed as a hero by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the courageous pilot said, “I was lying on the floor, injured, but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside……..Others came in and also played a role. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.” Writhing in pain, all Machchhar could do was open the cockpit door; he did, and, it was enough. Thank GOD for people (professionals) like Smit Machchhar.
William Arthur Ward taught that caring for others is a foundational pillar of a meaningful and abundant life. He wrote, “Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others.”
He viewed caring, not as a passive feeling, but as an active commitment to human connection, and added, “Do more than belong, participate. Do more than care, help. Do more than believe, practice. Do more than be fair, be kind. Do more than forgive, forget.”
How are you daring and caring for others?
Are you sharing the Goodness of GOD in your life with others? How do you plan to make a DIFFERENCE in people’s lives today/this week?
DA