‘Couldn’t Let Passengers Die’: Captain Smit Machchhar Recounts Flydubai Emergency To PM Modi
The pilot recounted the emergency while recovering in hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was seriously injured during a violent cockpit incident aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Modi praised Machchhar for his actions during the emergency and said his conduct helped protect the lives of passengers and avert a major tragedy. The Prime Minister’s Office has also said Machchhar is recovering and that India is proud of his courage.
The incident took place on flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, when the aircraft was travelling towards Tel Aviv. Machchhar was injured during a confrontation with the Omani co-pilot, after which passengers and crew members intervened. The Boeing 737 subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely with another pair of pilots on board.
Speaking to Machchhar, who was receiving medical treatment, Modi highlighted that the pilot continued to focus on protecting those aboard the aircraft despite being seriously injured. The Prime Minister later described Machchhar as a hero and said his actions helped save hundreds of lives. The government has also expressed support for his recovery following the incident.
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Machchhar recalled the situation during his conversation with the Prime Minister, saying he had been fighting for his life at the time. The incident prompted an emergency response inside the aircraft as passengers and crew helped secure the cockpit. The flight had experienced a rapid loss of altitude during the confrontation before eventually being brought under control and diverted safely.
Machchhar, an Indian citizen, has worked with flydubai for about four years after previously flying with SpiceJet. He has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience on Boeing 737 aircraft and has accumulated thousands of flying hours, according to information cited by NDTV. He was initially treated in Saudi Arabia after the emergency landing.
The pilot was later airlifted from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment, according to reports. Investigations into the cockpit incident are continuing, while authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the aircraft's sudden descent.
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