Devendra Fadnavis Meets Flydubai Pilot Captain Smit Machchhar’s Family in Mumbai (Video)
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis met the uncle and aunt of Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar in Mumbai on Thursday, praising the pilot's extraordinary courage and presence of mind. Machchhar saved over 170 lives by stabilizing flight FZ1073 despite sustaining serious stab wounds during a mid-air cockpit attack. Fadnavis called him a pride of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday met the uncle and aunt of Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar in Mumbai and enquired about the pilot, who has been hailed for his courage and presence of mind after a mid-air emergency. The meeting came as support and appreciation continued to pour in for the Mumbai pilot following the Flydubai flight incident in which Machchhar helped save hundreds of lives despite being seriously injured.
Machchhar was commanding Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when his co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed him inside the cockpit. The violent struggle sent the Boeing 737 aircraft into a steep dive before cabin crew and passengers intervened, allowing the severely injured commander to regain control and execute an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Who Is Smit Machchhar? Indian Pilot Fights Off Cockpit Attack, Saves Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight FZ1073 From Crashing.
Devendra Fadnavis Meets Flydubai Pilot Captain Smit Machchhar’s Family
A Moment of Pride for Maharashtra and India 🇮🇳
Met Capt. Smit Machchhar’s uncle and aunt today and expressed my heartfelt appreciation for his extraordinary courage. In a moment of grave danger, Smit displayed remarkable courage, presence of mind and a deep sense of… pic.twitter.com/ihhwbrNYaN
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 1, 2026
Chief Minister Expresses Pride and Gratitude to Family
During his interaction with Machchhar's relatives in Mumbai, the Chief Minister extended the state's respect and enquired about the pilot's post-surgery recovery. Fadnavis later shared his sentiments on social media, emphasizing the commander's composure during the life-threatening crisis.
In his post on X, the CM said, "In a moment of grave danger, Smit displayed remarkable courage, presence of mind and a deep sense of responsibility, helping save the lives of everyone on board. His bravery in the face of such a difficult situation is truly commendable. Smit has made Maharashtra and the India proud."
Under the caption "A Moment of Pride for Maharashtra and India 🇮🇳", Fadnavis added: "Met Capt. Smit Machchhar’s uncle and aunt today and expressed my heartfelt appreciation for his extraordinary courage."
Machchhar, who grew up in Mumbai and previously served as a senior commander with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai in 2022, has drawn widespread praise across the nation's political and civil aviation spectrum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel have also lauded the pilot's decisive actions. With investigations ongoing by international civil aviation authorities into the mid-air attack, state officials confirmed that the government remains in regular touch with the family to provide any required assistance during his medical recuperation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2026 06:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
