Despite suffering serious injuries when attacked by his own co-pilot, Machchhar saved the lives of 174 people on board, averting an air disaster.
The horror unfolded when the co-pilot, later described as being of Omani nationality, brutally attacked Machchhar with a knife or a small axe in the cockpit. Despite the fierce assault that left his face covered in blood, the Indian captain demonstrated astonishing resilience and ingenuity. He managed to activate two emergency alarms and, in an act of pure heroism, succeeded in opening the reinforced cockpit door just before collapsing due to his injuries. This critical action allowed three Israeli passengers to access the cockpit, where they found Machchhar severely wounded and the attacker destroying the flight instruments.
On board, dentist Musaev Shota, the only medical professional on the flight, provided first aid to the captain. He stabilized him despite "serious injuries to the head, abdomen, and wrists". The image of the pilot, with his bloodied face and an oxygen mask, has become a symbol of his bravery.
The impact of his actions did not go unnoticed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as a "hero", emphasizing that "faced with the most extreme danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally received the passengers and the heroic pilot at the airport, underscoring the magnitude of the tragedy averted.
Smit Machchhar, with a track record of over 9,750 flight hours and years of experience with Flydubai and SpiceJet, was taken to a hospital, where he is reported to be stable. His own philosophy, expressed in a previous interview, resonates with profound truth: "when things go wrong, [passengers] may need the crew. They can save their lives." On this flight, Machchhar did just that, opening that "closed door between salvation and disaster."