Indian Pilot to Receive Special Honour After Thwarting Cockpit Attack
Indian pilot Smith Machar, who thwarted a cockpit attack on a flydubai flight to Israel and saved 174 passengers, will receive a special honour from Gujarat.
The parents of Indian pilot Smith Machar initially experienced fear upon learning of the critical incident involving their son on a flight to Israel. However, within minutes, they gathered their composure and hurried to a temple to pray for his safety.
Government Recognition and Recovery
The government of Gujarat announced that it will confer the Special Gujarat Honour Award upon Smith Machar, the flydubai captain who was attacked by an Omani co-pilot during a flight from Dubai. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel praised his extraordinary courage in a post on X, stating that Machar brought immense pride to the state and all of India.
The hero captain, who saved 174 flydubai passengers from near-certain death by thwarting a hatchet attack inside the cockpit, is currently recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital. Machar is a veteran pilot with over 13 years of commercial flying experience, having previously worked for SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022.
A Parents Perspective
Speaking to NDTV, his father, Bhupendra Machar, credited divine strength for helping his son act with such bravery against impossible odds. He noted that his son sustained significant injuries to his head and both hands, requiring surgery and numerous stitches.
"As any parent, the first thought that went through our mind was of shock and fear. We immediately lit a lamp before God and prayed," Bhupendra Machar recalled.
Professional Dedication
The General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE also expressed high appreciation, praising the exceptional courage of Captain Smith Machar and the exemplary conduct of the FZ1073 flight crew during the harrowing ordeal.
