From textile student to hero pilot: Smit Machchhar who saved 174 lives to be honoured by Gujarat govt

Smit Machchhar never planned to become a pilot. Now, Gujarat will honour the Flydubai captain after his heroic actions during the FZ1073 cockpit emergency averted a 9/11-like event and saved 174 lives. Read to know more. 

Captain Smit Machchhar never planned to become a pilot. He studied textiles, expected to enter his family's business and even worried his mother when he chose aviation. Years later, after being badly injured during the flydubai FZ1073 cockpit attack, one decision helped passengers reach the cockpit. Gujarat will now honour him with the "Visisht Gujarat Garima Award" for his courage.

Also Read: 'Kill me, kill me': Netanyahu reveals Flydubai co-pilot's 9/11 plot

Gujarat announces award for Smit Machchhar

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the award on Thursday, praising the Gujarat-origin pilot for his actions aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight carrying 174 passengers.

"The courage of Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of the flight headed to Israel, is being saluted by the entire world today. Despite being drenched in blood due to the attack, he displayed indomitable bravery to save the lives of 174 passengers," he said in a post on X.

Chief minister Patel said the state would give Machchhar the "Visisht Gujarat Garima Award" to honour his courage and humanity. 

Smit Machchhar was supposed to join his family's textile business

Long before flydubai FZ1073, Machchhar saw his future in textiles rather than aircraft.

"Aviation was not a childhood dream. It came much later in life," he said in an interview that has resurfaced since the cockpit incident.

Machchhar studied textile engineering and later enrolled in a management course because he expected to help grow his family's textile business. Then, at about 19, he attended an aviation seminar. That meeting changed his career.

His decision was not immediately easy for his family. "My mom was scared," Machchhar recalled. Commercial aviation was a less familiar career choice at the time, and his mother was also worried about flying itself.

Machchhar eventually trained in New Zealand. He went on to spend more than a decade with SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022. As per reports that he has accumulated about 9,750 hours in the air during a flying career spanning roughly 15 years.

Then came flydubai FZ1073

That experience was tested aboard FZ1073 during its flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Authorities say an altercation erupted inside the cockpit and Machchhar was seriously injured. The aircraft then descended rapidly as the emergency unfolded.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to release the cockpit door, according to accounts from Israeli officials. That allowed passengers and other crew members to enter and overpower the alleged attacker. Off-duty pilots travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently helped take control.

The Boeing 737 MAX diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely with the passengers aboard.

From textile student to Gujarat award

He is now receiving medical treatment for his injuries. Indian officials have been in contact with his family, while Gujarat has also held prayers for his recovery.

Patel said the award would recognise Machchhar's "extraordinary act of bravery and humanity". What began with an aviation seminar at 19 has now led to one of Gujarat's public honours.

Also Read: Bloodied face in viral flydubai image: Who is Yaniv, passenger who entered cockpit?

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