Stories
ABVP Demands Ashok Chakra for Captain Smit Machchhar After Heroic Mid-Air Disaster Aversion
- •The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) passed a resolution demanding the Ashok Chakra for Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery in averting a mid-air disaster.
- •Captain Machchhar, commanding flydubai Flight FZ1073, fought off a co-pilot's attack with a sharp weapon, preventing a catastrophic crash and saving 174 lives.
- •Despite severe injuries, Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker, while two off-duty pilots landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •The ABVP's All-India Office Bearers Meeting in Itanagar also discussed educational scenarios, student issues, and reviewed their strong performance in recent campus elections across India.
- •Captain Machchhar, a veteran aviator with over 13 years of experience, is recovering well after emergency surgery, confirmed by the Indian Embassy in the UAE.
Key Questions Answered
ABVP demanded the Ashok Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award, to honor Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery in averting a catastrophic mid-air disaster and ensuring passenger safety on September 30, 2026.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a sharp weapon in the cockpit of the Boeing 737 MAX, causing the plane to dive nearly 14,000 feet. Despite severe injuries, Captain Machchhar fought back, unlocked the cockpit door, and allowed passengers and crew to subdue the attacker before an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, saving all 174 people on board.
The two-day All-India Office Bearers Meeting was held in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, on October 2–3, 2026, marking ABVP's first such meeting in the city.
