Within minutes, they recovered from the initial shock and rushed to a temple.
The first emotion of the parents of hero pilot Smit Machchhar after coming to know about their son’s heroics was “fear”. “We prayed, ‘God, whatever happens, no bad news should come; please save him’,” Bhupendra Machchhar, the pilot’s father, told NDTV, reminiscing about the most difficult few hours of his life.
The hero pilot, who saved 174 flydubai passengers from almost certain death by fighting off an axe attack by his co-pilot inside the cockpit, is recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
I won’t be able to provide all the exact details today, but the wounds are significant, and it will take some time to recover,” he added. “Like any parent, the first thought that came was one of shock and fear. “No one is specifically trained for this kind of situation. But it was God’s grace – some inner strength came to him. When the crisis arose, he tackled it, using every ounce of his power. I would say it is mostly God’s blessing,” he added. He has sustained injuries to his head and both hands. His head was operated on, and he has received quite a few stitches. Flying is everything to him. Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, an Omani national, with an axe inside the cockpit of the plane. During the fight, the plane plummeted. Realising that if he and his passengers were to survive, he would have to act and act fast. He opened the cockpit and alerted the crew and passengers about the attack despite his serious injuries. Other passengers overpowered the attacker, and off-duty pilots safely landed the plane. “When he fell inside the cockpit, he made up his mind that whatever had to be done had to be done right then, otherwise nothing would survive. In his mind, he realised fighting back was the only way. He took action and succeeded. He had one firm conviction: none of the passengers behind him should lose their lives. That was foremost in his mind. “When such an incident happens… we are very simple people. Everyone kept calling it a proud moment, but for me, my wife, and his wife, our primary concern was his well-being. He also gave a message to the young people of the country. “Looking at Smit’s values and our family background, I would only say to Gen Z and the youth: observe the respect he gives to his parents and the grounded life he leads. The better your thoughts and deeds, the more the Almighty stands by you in times of difficulty. Truth and honesty always prevail.
The hero pilot, who saved 174 flydubai passengers from almost certain death by fighting off an axe attack by his co-pilot inside the cockpit, is recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. “Truthfully speaking, he has been flying for nearly 17 years now. Over these 17 years, how he has guided hundreds of pilots – how to give interviews, how to grasp critical aviation matters – has been in his nature all along.
Bhupendra Machchhar credits “God” for giving him the strength to show his heroism against all odds. Immediately, we lit a lamp before God and prayed,” he told NDTV Managing Editor Shiv Aroor. He said the injured pilot is recovering well, but it would take a while for his wounds to fully heal. “The doctors said it will take time for these wounds to heal. Bhupendra Machchhar said his son is passionate about his profession and would regularly help other pilots. “Flying is like his wife,” he quipped. He doesn’t think about anything else beyond doing his job well and flying at the highest level,” he said. God supported that intention,” his father said. He said he is proud of his son but is more concerned about his well-being. our priority is to take care of our boy first,” he said While it is a proud moment. He said his son would resume his professional duties after his full recovery. Holding onto integrity is the real path to success,” he said.
