Stories
Odisha Leaders Hail Captain Smit Machchhar for Foiling Mid-Air Plane Crash Attempt
- •Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage in thwarting a co-pilot's attempt to crash a flydubai flight, calling his actions a reflection of 'Seva Paramo Dharma'.
- •BJD president Naveen Patnaik also lauded Captain Machchhar, stating that India is proud of his bravery and humanity for saving 174 lives on Flight FZ1073.
- •Captain Machchhar successfully resisted his co-pilot's violent attempt to hijack and crash the Boeing 737 MAX 8, despite sustaining serious injuries.
- •During the struggle, the aircraft lost nearly 16,000 feet of altitude in less than a minute, but Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to intervene.
- •The flight made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Captain Machchhar was hospitalized for his injuries.
Key Questions Answered
Despite being stabbed and gravely injured by his co-pilot during flydubai Flight FZ1073, Captain Smit Machchhar fought off the attacker and unlocked the cockpit door. This allowed crew members and passengers to rush inside, overpower the co-pilot, and assist in stabilizing the aircraft before an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Odisha leaders across the political spectrum praised Captain Machchhar for his extraordinary courage and devotion to duty. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that his selfless sacrifice reflects the ethos of 'Seva Paramo Dharma', while BJD president Naveen Patnaik expressed that India is proud of his bravery and humanity.
There were 174 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. All of their lives were saved after Captain Machchhar thwarted the violent hijacking attempt despite sustaining serious injuries.
