NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar saluted Captain Smit Machchhar for his exceptional courage and presence of mind, saying his actions went beyond the call of duty and helped protect more than 170 lives.
“Salute to Captain Smit Machchhar for his exceptional courage. His actions went beyond the call of duty, helping protect 170+ lives. He is a real HERO and the entire country is proud of him for his bravery and timely action. Wishing him speedy and total recovery,” Ambekar said.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) tweets, "Salute to Captain Smit Machchhar for his exceptional courage. His actions went beyond the call of duty, helping protect 170+ lives. He is a real HERO and the entire country is proud of him for his bravery and timely action. Wishing him… pic.twitter.com/cvmpeWBXel
— IANS (@ians_india) October 1, 2026
Captain Machchhar was piloting Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, when a violent attack inside the cockpit put the lives of everyone on board at risk. The aircraft, carrying 174 people, including passengers and crew, suddenly descended from its cruising altitude after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Captain Machchhar fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and overpower the attacker. Two additional Flydubai pilots travelling on the aircraft then took control and stabilised the plane. The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe emergency landing.
The captain’s courage and presence of mind drew widespread appreciation, with RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar joining those who saluted his bravery. In a post on X, Ambekar praised Captain Machchhar for his exceptional courage and timely action, stating that his actions went beyond the call of duty and helped protect more than 170 lives.
Captain Machchhar is currently recovering from his injuries, while investigations into the cockpit attack and the co-pilot’s alleged actions are underway.
