Indian PM hails ‘hero’ flydubai pilot for averting disaster

Mumbai, India - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Captain Smit Machchhar as a "HERO" on Thursday, following an in-flight incident on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Captain Machchhar was wounded by his co-pilot during the struggle for control of the aircraft. All 174 passengers, including 166 Israelis, were safely evacuated.

Modi's statement emphasized Captain Machchhar's immense courage and unwavering resolve to protect lives despite being seriously injured. The Indian government expressed pride in his valour, which helped prevent a major disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Captain Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery in fighting back and averting a catastrophic mid-air crisis.

Captain Machchhar, in his 30s, has over 13 years of experience flying the Boeing 737 fleet with flydubai since 2022. He has previously worked for the Indian airline SpiceJet. Captain Machchhar spoke about his passion for aviation in a podcast, describing his first commercial flight as intimidating but manageable through focus on the task at hand. His parents have flown to Saudi Arabia, where he is recovering, to support him.