Bhubaneswar: Odisha leaders across the political spectrum showered praise on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for thwarting his co-pilot’s alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight, saving 174 lives.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the pilot’s selfless sacrifice “reflects the timeless Bharatiya ethos of ‘Seva Paramo Dharma'”.
In a social media post, Majhi said, “Even after sustaining serious injuries, he put the lives of others before his own. His selfless sacrifice reflects the timeless Bharatiya ethos of ‘Seva Paramo Dharma’. My heartfelt prayers are with Captain Machchhar and his family. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath bless him with strength, healing and a complete recovery.
“BJD president Naveen Patnaik also hailed the pilot and said India is proud of him.”Saluting Indian Captain Smit Machchhar who displayed remarkable courage and swift action to save the lives of passengers on board a flydubai flight. Despite being gravely injured, he fought off his co-pilot to save lives mid-air. India is proud of his bravery and humanity. Wish him speedy recovery and good health,” Patnaik said in an X post.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida wrote, “Captain Smit Machchhar’s courage, determination and selfless spirit are truly inspiring. His bravery in protecting others, even in the face of grave danger, deserves our deepest respect. Wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.”
According to reports, Captain Machchhar foiled a violent attempt by his co-pilot to crash Flight FZ1073 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Machchhar in an attempt to hijack and crash the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The struggle caused the aircraft to enter a violent dive, losing nearly 16,000 feet of altitude in less than a minute.
However, Captain Machchhar resisted, unlocked the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to rush inside, overpower the co-pilot and stabilise the aircraft. The flight later made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Machchhar was hospitalised for his injuries.
