Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar Hailed as Hero After Cockpit Attack on Israel-Bound Flight

Captain Smit Machchhar, from India, is gaining global recognition for saving the lives of the crew and passengers in an emergency situation on flydubai Flight FZ1073 when the aircraft was en route to Tel Aviv in response to a passenger complaint of abdominal discomfort. Machchhar sustained serious injuries in the cockpit fight, but was said to have helped open the flight-deck door so everyone could move in.

At 174 people on board, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying at cruising altitude. Approximately 14,000 feet were dropped in just a few seconds, as flight-tracking information was seen, and emergency transponder signals were sent out. It was then turned around and resumed its journey safely, landing at Tabuk.

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Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?

Machchhar is a commercial pilot from India, having flown for over 13 years. Prior to his employment with flydubai in June 2022, he was employed by SpiceJet for approximately 11 years where he commanded the senior ranks of the airline as well as training and screening pilots as a Line Training Captain.

According to his professional profile the sum of his flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft is around 9750 hours, including 737-800 and 737 MAX variants. More than 6,400 out of those hours have been spent as a pilot in command (PIC) for SpiceJet, reports say.

What Happened Inside the Cockpit?

Machchhar was injured when he was attacked by his co-pilot during the flight, reports indicate, and he suffered from serious injuries. The plane then crashed downward close to the ground, with worry mounting that it was going to crash and cause a disaster. The reasons for the confrontation are still being explored.

Machchhar was injured, but managed to open the cockpit door, according to reports. Passengers, cabin crew and the off-duty pilots were then able to assist in holding the other pilot, and qualified staff assisted with stabilizing the aircraft for an emergency diversion as it went into a gliding descent.

International Praise for Machchhar

Indian and Israeli leaders have welcomed Machchhar’s actions, which have been praised by the public. Post the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was “extraordinary” he has “had to face many difficult situations” since taking up the role of the captain, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also applauded the skipper. His exceptional response in catastrophic situations has also been noted by former colleagues and the aviation community.

Shortly after the accident, Machchhar was taken to hospital in Tabuk, where he continues to be in “stable” condition. Investigators are continuing to probe the cockpit activity and circumstances about the attack.

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