PM Modi Calls Captain Smit Machchhar’s Family as India Salutes Flydubai Pilot

NEW DELHI: Captain Smit Machchhar’s actions inside a stricken Flydubai aircraft have triggered an extraordinary wave of recognition in India and abroad, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally contacting his family on Thursday as the injured pilot continued to recover in Saudi Arabia.

Modi spoke to Machchhar’s parents and wife, praised his conduct during the emergency and assured them that Indian diplomatic officials were extending assistance.

The Prime Minister later used the incident as an example of courage and presence of mind while addressing the centenary celebrations of the Union Public Service Commission.

The attention on Machchhar follows the dramatic events aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people aboard.

What might have become a major aviation disaster was brought under control after the captain, despite suffering serious injuries, managed to provide access to the cockpit to people who could intervene.

A few critical moments changed the course of the flight

The emergency developed while the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was cruising over Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar, after which the aircraft entered a sharp descent.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft dropping from roughly 33,000 feet to around 17,000 feet in approximately a minute.

The sudden loss of altitude turned an already violent cockpit confrontation into an immediate aviation emergency.

Machchhar, although badly wounded, succeeded in unlocking the cockpit door. Passengers and crew then moved towards the flight deck and helped restrain the attacker.

Two off-duty pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also assisted in getting the aircraft safely under control.

The flight was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The passengers were later taken onward to their destination.

From cockpit emergency to international tribute

The episode has prompted tributes from political leaders in India and overseas.

President Droupadi Murmu said the country was proud of Machchhar, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the captain for placing the safety of others ahead of his own during the emergency.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also commended the pilot’s conduct. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge praised Machchhar as well as the crew members and passengers who intervened when the aircraft was in danger.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu separately hailed the Indian captain for fighting back after being attacked and for opening the cockpit door, saying this enabled others aboard the aircraft to confront the assailant.

The response has extended beyond political circles. Machchhar’s former colleagues and people who knew him in Mumbai have described him as composed and professional.

His former training institution in New Zealand has also praised his conduct during the emergency.

A career that began away from aviation

Machchhar’s professional journey was not originally headed towards commercial aviation.

According to reports about his background, he initially studied textile engineering with the expectation that he would eventually enter his family’s textile business.

A seminar on aviation when he was about 19 changed that plan. He subsequently pursued flight training in New Zealand and embarked on a career in commercial aviation.

Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet. He eventually became a Line Training Captain and accumulated extensive experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft.

He joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022. Reports put his total flying experience at close to 9,750 hours, with the overwhelming majority involving the Boeing 737 family.

That experience became crucial when the aircraft suddenly descended, and the cockpit became the scene of a physical struggle.

The pilot’s recovery remains the immediate concern.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk after the aircraft landed. Reports said he underwent treatment for his injuries and remained in stable condition.

The Indian mission in Saudi Arabia has been monitoring his condition and staying in contact with his family.

Meanwhile, investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the attack. The alleged attacker, an Omani national, remains in Saudi custody.

The UAE has also opened an investigation into the incident, including the circumstances and possible motive behind it.

The motive has not been conclusively established. Authorities are expected to examine the cockpit events, the suspect’s background and the security arrangements surrounding the flight before reaching any conclusions.

For Machchhar’s family, however, the immediate priority is his recovery.

For the wider aviation community, the incident has raised difficult questions about cockpit security and the safeguards required when a member of the flight crew becomes a threat to the aircraft.

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