The Seattle office of the American Jewish Committee addressed a formal letter to India’s Consul General in Seattle, Prakash Gupta, conveying deep gratitude for Captain Machchhar’s intervention during the suspected terror incident on the flydubai flight September 30, 2026.
The organization noted in the letter of October 3, that it shares the sentiments expressed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the pilot’s bravery.
“We echo Prime Ministers Modi and Netanyahu in characterizing Captain Machchhar as a hero; without his presence of mind, even while gravely injured, over 170 passengers (including over 25 children) would not have survived this terrifying experience,” the AJC Seattle correspondence noted.
Invoking traditional tenets, the organization added, “Jewish tradition teaches that saving one life is tantamount to saving the entire world (Sanhedrin 37a). Captain Machchhar’s actions saved over 170 entire worlds, and we commend his courage.”
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Extending wishes for his convalescence, the AJC chapter noted, “In Hebrew, we say ‘refuah shleimah’, literally, ‘complete healing’.” The letter elaborated, “With those words, we pray for healing not only of the body but also of the spirit and the mind, because life-and-death experiences often leave scars which are invisible to the human eye.”
Highlighting regional community bonds, the organization stated, “We deeply value the local relationship between Jews and Indians across the Puget Sound, and know that our friendship here reflects a worldwide brotherhood between our two communities.” The statement further added the observation that “Captain Smit Machchhar represents the best of India, and we remain forever indebted to him for his role in stopping what could easily have been a tragedy of global proportions.”