SpiceJet hails Captain Smit Machchhar's heroism; wishes swift recovery after flydubai flight incident

Indian carrier SpiceJet hailed Captain Smit Machchhar's efforts to save passengers during flydubai flight incident where the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Indian-origin pilot mid-air.

The airline wished pilot Machchhar "complete and swift recovery."

Also read: 'Captain Smit Machchhar is a hero': PM Modi hails former pilot SpiceJet pilot aboard Flydubai flight


"Our heartfelt prayers and deepest respect go out to Captain Smit Machchhar for his heroic courage aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073.
Your heroism saved countless lives today," it said.

"His courage and selfless actions are a true embodiment of the values we hold dear at SpiceJet. His SpiceJet family joins millions across the country and around the world in wishing him a complete and swift recovery. You are a hero to us all, Captain," the airline said.

Smit Machchhar, who previously spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022, has more than 13 years of experience in commercial flying. He has accumulated more than 9,500 flying hours, according to PTI.

Machchhar's former boss, Chairman and Managing Director Spicejet Ajay Singh hailed the efforts of the pilot and said that all of India and the Spicjet family was proud of him.

Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "I was incredibly proud to know of this, but this is the job of a pilot. His job is to protect the lives that have been entrusted to him. And in this case, 180 lives were entrusted to Captain Smit Machchhar, and he did a tremendous job saving and preserving those lives. So really incredibly proud of him. All of SpiceJet is proud of him, and of course, all of India is proud of him."