Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar? Meet The Indian Flydubai Pilot, at the Center Of The Flight Incident
Captain Smit Machchhar is an experienced Indian Boeing 737 pilot with over 13 years in commercial aviation. From SpiceJet to flydubai, Machchhar has completed more than 9,750 flying hours and recently drew attention following the dramatic Flight FZ 1073 incident.
In a recent dramatic mid-air incident, the pilot has become the centre of attraction. Captain Smit Machchhar has been at the centre of the incident involving flydubai Flight FZ 1073 on September 30, 2026.
The Indian pilot was reportedly attacked by his co-pilot in the incident. The co-pilot of Smit was allegedly trying to interfere with the aircraft system while the flight was still travelling from Dubai to Israel.
Captain Machchhar was the commanding officer of the flight that was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. Machchhar fought back his co-pilot even after being stabbed multiple times.
During the struggle, the aircraft reportedly dropped more than 17,400 feet in around two minutes, which alarmed everyone on the flight. The crew immediately rushed to the cockpit.
A passenger and crew member then entered the cockpit and helped subdue the suspect before the plane safely landed in Saudi Arabia.
Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is a well-experienced Boeing 737 pilot, having 13 years of commercial flying experience. He has a record of flying over more than 9,750 flying hours.
Smit has been associated with flydubai for around four years, joining the airline in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain.
Previously, Machchhar was working for SpiceJet for almost a decade, since 2011. His designation there was senior commander and line training captain. His years in the cockpit have given him extensive experience in flying and training pilots on the Boeing 737. Quite literally, his career has been built around keeping flights on course.
Smit Machchhar’s Journey From Family Business To Aviation
Captain Smit Machchhar’s journey to the cockpit was not a straight flight. From studying textile engineering and management to discovering aviation at 19. His career took an unexpected turn, Here is how he moved from his family business background to becoming a pilot.
- Machchhar initially joined a textile engineering course connected to his family's business after completing school.
- He later shifted towards management studies.
- At the age of 19, he attended an aviation seminar, where he developed an interest in flying.
- He subsequently underwent pilot training in New Zealand.
- In an earlier podcast, Machchhar said his training cost his family around Rs 16 lakh to Rs 17 lakh.
- His mother was reportedly worried about his decision to pursue aviation, while his father remained calm about it.
- Aviation also became a family connection, with his brother recently joining flydubai.
Aishwarya Samant is a journalist with over 4 years of experience navigating the fast-paced corporate media landscape. She specializes in decoding business news, world economy, personal finance, and stock market trends, often adding a subtle touch of political perspective to keep things interesting.
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