{
  "id": 11414375,
  "title": "‘Son Of Mumbai’: Milind Deora Urges Ashoka Chakra For Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/son-of-mumbai-milind-deora-urges-ashoka-chakra-for-flydubai-captain",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T10:11:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/son-of-mumbai-milind-deora-urges-ashoka-chakra-for-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, advocating for the consideration of flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra. Deora, representing Mumbai, expressed gratitude on behalf of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena for Machchhar's \"extraordinary courage when it mattered most.\"\n\nIn his letter, Deora recounted the incident where Machchhar, a Mumbai-born pilot, bravely saved 174 passengers on board the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite being seriously injured by his co-pilot, Machchhar continued to act, eventually opening the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Deora emphasized that Machchhar's actions went \"far beyond the responsibilities of his profession,\" putting the lives of others before his own despite severe injuries.\n\nMumbai residents, particularly those in Deora's neighbourhood, expressed pride and called for Machchhar's recognition of the Ashoka Chakra. Deora noted that the Ashoka Chakra can be awarded to civilians for acts of \"most conspicuous bravery,\" daring, pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice. He urged the government to formally recognize Machchhar's actions, stating that such an honor would send a message that courage is not limited to the battlefield or specific professions.",
  "summary": "Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to consider flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, for displaying “extraordinary courage when it mattered most”. As an MP from Mumbai & on behalf of @mieknathshinde ji & @Shivsenaofc , I have written to PM @narendramodi ji requesting…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "PM Modi speaks to injured pilot Smit Machchhar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pm-modi-speaks-to-injured-pilot-smit-machchhar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T06:19:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV - India News",
        "title": "'I Was Injured But Couldn't Let Passengers Die': Captain Smit Machchhar To PM Modi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/i-was-injured-but-couldnt-let-passengers-die-captain-smit-machchhar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:00:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "PM Modi speaks to flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchaar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pm-modi-speaks-to-flydubai-pilot-captain-smit-machchaar",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:37:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "‘Told myself, this will be last push’: Smit Machchhar to PM on flydubai cockpit fight",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/told-myself-this-will-be-last-push-smit-machchhar-to-pm-on-flydubai",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:17:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "‘Our hero’: India rallies behind flydubai Captain Smit after cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/our-hero-india-rallies-behind-flydubai-captain-smit-after-cockpit",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:56:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Pilots’ body urges PM Modi to give flydubai captain Smit Machchhar a bravery award for saving 182 lives",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/pilots-body-urges-pm-modi-to-give-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-a",
        "published": "2026-10-02T10:58:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "'The last push': FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar recounts harrowing cockpit attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/the-last-push-flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-recounts-harrowing",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:51:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}