October 1, 2026 12:05 PM
From textile engineering to cockpit hero: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar wins praise for foiling flydubai crash attempt
For Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, hailed as a hero for averting a crash of a flydubai jet bound for Israel, aviation was never part of his childhood dreams. Machchhar had his sights set on the family's textile business, until the aviation bug bit at the age of 19, which scared his mother. Now even after thousands of hours of flying, Machchhar's love of aviation is something he keeps in the cockpit, reluctant to discuss with those on the ground. "Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO," Indian Prime ...