Flydubai captain praised for his role in averting a major mid-air crisis; Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel announces state honour and cash awardGandhinagar. The Gujarat government will honour Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for his courage during a serious in-flight emergency aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the state honour on Thursday and also approved a cash reward of ₹25 lakh for the pilot.Captain Machchhar was seriously injured during an alleged confrontation inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073. Despite sustaining injuries, he continued to respond to the emergency, helping create an opportunity for passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft was subsequently diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.CM Patel said that Machchhar's actions had demonstrated exceptional courage and humanity. In a post on X, he said the Gujarati-origin pilot had brought recognition to Gujarat and India through his actions.₹25 Lakh Cash Reward AnnouncedAlong with the award, the Gujarat government has announced a cash reward of ₹25 lakh in recognition of Machchhar's actions during the emergency.Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also praised the captain, saying Gujarat was proud of his courage and contribution in protecting those aboard the aircraft.The announcement comes a day after the incident involving Flydubai's Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, according to reports.Flight Diverted to TabukAccording to reports, an alleged attack on Captain Machchhar took place inside the cockpit while the aircraft was airborne. The aircraft subsequently experienced a rapid descent before the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia.Machchhar, despite his injuries, was reportedly able to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and help restrain the alleged attacker. Assistance from passengers also helped the flight crew regain control of the situation before the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk.The circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation and the alleged attack remain under investigation.International Praise for Captain MachchharThe incident has attracted international attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu among those who have publicly praised the Indian captain's courage. Reports also said Modi spoke with Machchhar's family and expressed support for his recovery.Machchhar has more than 13 years of experience in commercial aviation and is reported to have around 9,750 flying hours. He joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 and had previously spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a commander and line training captain.Captain Machchhar is currently undergoing treatment in Saudi Arabia. Authorities and the airline are investigating the circumstances of the cockpit incident and the events leading up to the emergency.
