New Delhi: Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was seriously injured while thwarting an alleged attempt to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, has been honoured for his bravery after Mankind Pharma announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore for him and his family.
Machchhar was reportedly attacked inside the cockpit during Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Despite sustaining serious injuries, he managed to confront the attacker and open the cockpit door, helping prevent a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.
Mankind Pharma announces Rs 1 crore reward
Mankind Pharma announced the reward in a post on its official social media account on Friday, praising Machchhar for prioritising the safety of his crew and passengers despite being injured.
“Captain Smit Machchhar put his crew and every passenger before himself. That is true leadership. As a humble effort to express our gratitude, Mankind Pharma is giving Rs 1 crore to him and his family. You have made India proud. We salute you,” the company said.
The announcement comes amid widespread appreciation for the pilot’s actions during the incident.
Co-pilot allegedly attacked pilot with a knife
According to reports, the incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.
The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam Al-Hamami, allegedly attacked Machchhar with a knife inside the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Machchhar was seriously injured in the attack but managed to open the cockpit door. Following this, some passengers reportedly entered the cockpit and restrained Al-Hamami.
The incident was subsequently brought under control, and the aircraft continued to safety.
Federation of Indian Pilots seeks bravery award
Support for Machchhar has also come from the aviation community. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the government to honour him with a bravery award.
FIP president Captain CS Randhawa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, highlighting Machchhar’s conduct during the incident.
“Considering the circumstances in which Captain Smit discharged his duty, he deserves a special honour,” Randhawa said in the letter.
The pilot has since received widespread appreciation for his actions, with his response during the alleged cockpit attack being described by supporters as an example of courage and professional duty.
