Pawan Kalyan, Jagan hail Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for saving 174 lives on flydubai flight
Political leaders in Andhra Pradesh have praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery during a mid-air crisis on a flydubai flight. The captain reportedly fought off an attacking co-pilot, preventing a potential crash and saving 174 lives.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the critical importance of cockpit security and the extraordinary actions of flight crew in preventing aviation disasters.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy have praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind during a mid-air crisis aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).
The leaders commended the captain for his actions after he was attacked in the cockpit by his co-pilot, who allegedly tried to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight , according to reports. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Mr. Machchhar is said to have managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to overpower the attacker.
In a post on X, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the captain’s actions helped avert a potentially catastrophic tragedy and save the lives of 174 people on board.
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