Stories
Captain Smit Machchhar: From Textile Engineering Aspirant to Hero Pilot Saving 180 Lives
- •Captain Smit Machchhar thwarted a major conspiracy on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saving 180 passengers.
- •Originally planning a career in textile engineering, Smit decided to become a pilot at 19 after attending an aviation seminar.
- •He completed pilot training in New Zealand and boasts over 13 years of experience on the Boeing 737 fleet, with 9,750 flight hours.
- •Smit began his career with SpiceJet in 2011 and joined Flydubai as a Direct Entry Captain in June 2022.
- •Despite being severely injured during a struggle with a co-pilot attempting to sabotage the aircraft, he ensured passenger safety.
Key Questions Answered
During Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, a co-pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft, resulting in a fierce cockpit struggle where Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured and stabbed. Despite being covered in blood, he displayed remarkable bravery and composure to save the lives of approximately 180 passengers on board.
Although initially pursuing a textile engineering course and management after the 12th grade, his life changed at age 19 after attending an aviation seminar. With his father's support, he moved to New Zealand to complete his pilot training and later built over 13 years of commercial flying experience on the Boeing 737 fleet.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Smit Machchhar holds a record of over 9,750 hours of safe flight across more than 13 years of commercial experience on the Boeing 737 fleet. He started his career with SpiceJet in 2011 before joining Flydubai as a Direct Entry Captain in June 2022.
