Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero after fighting to retain control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him, leaving him wounded but helping avert disaster. The incident occurred on a flydubai flight on Wednesday, and Machchhar's bravery has been praised by leaders and the public.
Machchhar, who is in his 30s and holds more than a decade of flying experience, is being described by friends and neighbors in the Mumbai suburb where his parents live as a soft-spoken, helpful, and always smiling man who has remained calm under pressure since childhood. His neighbors, Akshay Doshi and Laxmikant Joshi, expressed their pride in Machchhar's bravery, saying it did not come as a surprise.
The Indian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Deepak Mittal, met with Machchhar at the hospital, where he is receiving treatment for his injuries. According to the Indian embassy, Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. Machchhar has said that the weight of responsibility for passengers' safety weighed heavily on his mind early in his flying career, but he has always appeared composed.
Machchhar's path to the cockpit was not straightforward; he initially studied management to help his family's textile business but caught the aviation bug after attending a seminar. His first commercial flight was scary, but he learned to manage the pressure. Machchhar has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft and has flown for Dubai-based flydubai since 2022.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar's actions, saying he helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. Modi said Machchhar showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others despite being seriously injured. The incident sparked a struggle for control of the aircraft, but all passengers were reported safe.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar's extraordinary bravery, saying he fought back despite being wounded and helped prevent a catastrophic mid-air disaster. President Droupadi Murmu saluted Machchhar's heroic courage and incredible presence of mind, saying his actions helped prevent a major tragedy.
Machchhar is recovering in Saudi Arabia, according to reports, and his parents had flown to the Gulf kingdom to be at his side. The incident has earned Machchhar widespread praise, with many hailing him as a superhero in the sky.
Key points
- Indian pilot Smit Machchhar fought back against co-pilot attack on Israel-bound flight.
- Machchhar's bravery has been praised by leaders and the public.
- The incident occurred on a flydubai flight on Wednesday, and all passengers were reported safe.
