Gandhinagar, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Gujarat government will honour Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’ and a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for his courageous actions during an alleged cockpit attack aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the award on Thursday, praising Machchhar for helping avert a major tragedy despite being injured and bleeding during the incident. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.
In a post on X, Patel described the captain’s actions as inspiring and commendable, saying his bravery had brought pride to Gujarat and the country. He also expressed wishes for Machchhar’s speedy recovery.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also announced the honour, stating that the captain had displayed extraordinary courage despite sustaining serious injuries. Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that the government had additionally approved a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh.
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to reports, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit, causing the aircraft to descend sharply.
The plane was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and help restrain the attacker. Two passengers subsequently assisted in taking control of the aircraft before it landed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly praised the captain’s actions. Modi also spoke to Machchhar’s family on Thursday and described the injured pilot as a hero.
Machchhar, who has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and nearly 9,750 flying hours, joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after serving for over 11 years with SpiceJet. He is currently recovering in Saudi Arabia.
The circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack and the co-pilot’s alleged actions remain under investigation. Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation took place in the flight deck and that an investigation is underway.
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