Kathmandu, October 1
Indian pilot Captain Smith Machchhar has come into the international spotlight following an extraordinary incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ-1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 174 people when a serious confrontation broke out between the two pilots in the cockpit during the flight. The aircraft subsequently lost around 14,000 feet in altitude before making an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai said all passengers and crew members on board were safe.
At the centre of the incident was Machchhar, an Indian captain whose actions after he was attacked have drawn international attention.
Who is Smit Machchhar?
According to The Times of India, Machchhar is from Ghatkopar in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
He is an experienced commercial pilot who has spent years flying professionally, based in Mumbai. Public professional profiles and reports in Indian media indicate that he has extensive experience in commercial aviation.
Machchhar began his professional flying career with SpiceJet, joining the airline in 2011. He worked there for around 11 years and rose to the position of senior captain.
From November 2020, he also served as a line training captain. In that role, pilots are responsible for training other pilots, assessing their flying skills and ensuring that required standards are followed during commercial operations.
In June 2022, Machchhar joined Flydubai as a direct-entry captain. This meant he joined the airline as a captain based on his previous command experience rather than starting as a new pilot.
His public LinkedIn profile lists around 9,750 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft. Publicly available details also indicate that he had logged more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command while at SpiceJet.
What happened on September 30?
Flydubai flight FZ-1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Reuters, there were 174 people on board.
During the flight, a serious confrontation took place in the cockpit between Captain Machchhar and his co-pilot. Initial reports indicate that the co-pilot attacked Smit Machchhar with a sharp weapon.
During the incident, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude. Reuters reported that the plane descended by around 14,000 feet. The aircraft later transmitted an emergency signal.
However, the exact sequence of events, the motive for the attack and everything that happened inside the cockpit remain under investigation.
Flydubai has also said that no conclusions should be drawn yet about the cause or motive of the incident.
Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite being injured
One of the most notable aspects of the incident was Machhar’s actions after he was seriously injured.
According to reports, Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite being wounded in the attack. Passengers and crew members were then able to enter the cockpit and help restrain the attacker.
Other Flydubai pilots who were on board subsequently took over responsibility for the cockpit.
The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely before reaching its destination in Tel Aviv.
International media reports have highlighted Machchhar’s actions and his response under the circumstances. However, reports also indicate that the safe landing involved the efforts of passengers, crew members and other pilots on board.
What is Machchhar’s condition?
After the emergency landing, Smit Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk.
Recent reports said he underwent surgery and remains in stable condition. Flydubai and Indian officials are reported to be in contact with his family.
The co-pilot involved in the incident was also arrested, according to reports, and authorities are investigating the case.
Various reports have identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. However, the full details of the incident and its motive remain subject to the outcome of the official investigation.
Modi, Trump and Netanyahu praise Machchhar
Following the incident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Smit Machchhar.
Trump praised the Indian pilot who was attacked during the incident and called Machchhar a “hero.”
Netanyahu also praised Machchhar for opening the cockpit door despite suffering serious injuries, allowing passengers and crew members an opportunity to intervene.
Indian media reports said Modi also called Smit Machchhar a “hero” and praised the courage he displayed during the crisis.
