Pilots' body FIP urges govt to honour Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar with bravery award

MUMBAI, Oct 2 : Pilots' body FIP on Friday requested the government to confer bravery award on Flydubai pilot-in-command Smit Machchhar, who foiled an attempt by his co-pilot to allegedly crash an Israel-bound flight.

In a letter to Prime Narendra Modi on Friday, the Federation of Indian (FIP) President Capt C S Randhawa said that, "the circumstances in which Capt Smit performed his duties merit special recognition".

Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.

"As reported, despite being badly injured and confronted with an extraordinarily dangerous situation within the flight deck, Capt. Smit continued to discharge his responsibilities as Pilot-in-Command," FIP said in the letter.

Stating that he maintained control of the aircraft, exercised command and judgement under extreme circumstances, and ultimately diverted the aircraft safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, as per reports, the FIP said, "most significantly, 174 passengers and eight crew members entrusted their lives to the flight crew, and Capt Smit's actions under circumstances of extreme personal danger contributed to bringing the aircraft safely to an alternate airport," FIP said in the letter.

The pilots' body said Capt Smit was its member until 2022, and added that although is no longer a member of the Federation now, "it regards him as part of the wider fraternity of professional pilots."

"The Federation would be honoured if the Indian government were to recognise this exceptional act of courage and devotion to duty... FIP respectfully submits this representation seeking the consideration of Capt. Smit, Pilot-in-Command of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, for an appropriate National Bravery Award in recognition of his extraordinary courage, exceptional leadership and exemplary devotion to duty during a grave and unprecedented in-flight emergency on 30 September 2026," it said in the letter. (PTI)