Flydubai hijack attempt: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar hailed as ‘true hero’; friend says ‘He taught us courage’ | Today’s news
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a “real hero” after he was attacked and stabbed by another pilot in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar was the captain of the Boeing 737 Max when the incident took place on Wednesday. The plane was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar was taken to hospital.
According to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, he remains in a stable condition.
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A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a violent altercation in the cockpit where the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar and tried to take control of the plane, causing it to descend rapidly before it was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar was hailed as a hero for his courageous actions during the attempted hijacking when he managed to open the cockpit door to allow the passengers and crew to subdue the attacker, saving the lives of 174 people on board.
After Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite his injuries, the passengers and crew worked together to overpower the co-pilot and stabilize the plane, allowing it to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Smita Machchhar’s training included extensive flying experience and techniques such as “chair flying”, which involves mentally rehearsing emergency procedures, enhancing focus and discipline necessary to handle cockpit crises.
An investigation is underway to determine the co-pilot’s motive, his background and any possible links to terrorist activity, given his reported social media activity and allegations of radicalization.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Machhar a “true hero” and said he saved the lives of 174 people and prevented a “catastrophic disaster in the air.”
A BBC report said Machchhar’s long-time friend and fellow pilot Captain Dharav Gosalia recalled his reaction after learning about the incident, as well as the pilot’s career and training.
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‘I had goosebumps’: Friend remembers Machchhar
Gosalia said his immediate reaction after learning of the incident was, “I got goosebumps.”
The two pilots have known each other since they were in their 20s, when they were neighbors in Ghatkopar, Mumbai and began their flight training in New Zealand.
Machchhar was Gosalia senior. They later spent six years working together at SpiceJet, flying Boeing 737 aircraft.
Their careers subsequently took them in different directions. Machchhar moved to Dubai and joined Flydubai in 2022, while Gosalia continued to fly Boeing 777s for Air India.
“We have been in touch with the news,” says Gosalia. “If there are any routes we have to fly, we discuss destinations and family on WhatsApp and the phone.”
Their paths occasionally crossed during the flight. In 2024, Gosalia was flying to London via Dubai airspace when he recognized Machchhar’s voice on the radio. Machchhar flew to Mumbai.
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“We said hello,” he recalls.
‘Outgoing person, jovial’: How Gosalia remembers Machchhar
Gosalia described Machchhar as an outgoing and jovial person.
“Outgoing person, jovial. Very jovial,” he says.
The two met during stopovers in destinations like Milan and Bangkok and played tennis cricket while back in Mumbai.
Machchhar also helped the younger pilots by teaching the new recruits and passing on what he had learned.
“He is a very disciplined airman,” says Gosalia.
Pilot training and “chair flying” technique.
Gosalia said Machchhar’s discipline was strengthened by years of training, including instruction from former Indian Air Force pilots who later transitioned to commercial aviation.
“That training gives you more focus, more discipline, and more focus on motor skills,” says Gosalia.
One part of pilot training is known among pilots as “chair flying”. It involves practicing the emergency procedure while sitting in a chair, mentally running through the sequence and moving your hands to where the appropriate switches and controls would be in the cockpit.
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The idea is to make these movements instinctive when something goes wrong and there is little time to think.
Machchhar had more than 9,750 flying hours
Machchhar had a wealth of flying experience to draw upon. According to his LinkedIn profile, he had more than 9,750 hours of flying experience, including more than 6,400 hours as a pilot-in-command.
Gosalia said the exact sequence of Wednesday’s confrontation would be clearer from the plane’s flight data and cockpit footage.
But whatever happened inside the cockpit, according to him, Machchhar had to make decisions under extraordinary pressure.
“What happened to him, what he did – he was a flight commander,” says Gosalia.
“There is no conventional checklist” for a cockpit attack
Pilots have procedures in place for emergency situations such as engine failure, fire, or loss of cabin pressure.
However, there is no conventional checklist for another person trying to overpower someone inside the cockpit.
And that, Gosalia says, is all about courage.
“How much courage is involved? A lot,” he says. “It was life-threatening.
The BBC report also highlighted Gosalia’s point about what Machchhar’s experience could mean for fellow pilots facing a similar situation.
“Smit taught us courage. Now we’ll do the same when something like this happens.”
