Smit Machchhar (Pilot) Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Smit Machchhar

• As a child, Machchhar did not dream of becoming a pilot.

• After completing his schooling, he joined a textile engineering course because his family wanted him to join his family’s textile business.

• After that, he decided to study management to help with the family business.

• During his management studies, he attended an aviation seminar and became interested in flying.

• When he was 19 years old, he decided to make aviation his career.

• Reportedly, his decision surprised his family.

• Machchhar once said in an interview that his mother was scared when he told her about his plan to become a pilot.

• At that time, becoming a commercial pilot was not a common career choice among people around him. His father was comfortable with the decision.

• After that, he completed his pilot training in New Zealand.

• He later completed Boeing 737 type-rating training in Gurgaon, Haryana.

• In June 2011, Machchhar joined SpiceJet and worked there for 11 years and became a senior commander.

• In November 2020, he became a Line Training Captain, and started training and assessing other pilots.

• During his period at SpiceJet, he had more than 6,400 hours as a pilot-in-command.

• In June 2022, he joined flydubai as a direct-entry captain.

  

  Smit Machchhar posing in a cockpit of a plane

• As of 2026, he had 9,750 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft.

• Once during a media talk, Machchhar spoke about his approach to flying. He said that safety is more important than avoiding delays.

• He remembered some situations where flights had to be diverted because of medical emergencies or delayed because of technical concerns. The most important thing for him was that passengers reached the ground safely.

• On 30 September 2026, Machchhar was the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

• During the flight, a serious fight broke out inside the cockpit.

• Reportedly, as the aircraft was approaching Israel, the other pilot stabbed him and attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board.

• He was hurt, but he managed to open the cockpit door, which allowed passengers and crew members to reach the cockpit and restrain the other pilot.

• The place dropped sharply from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet within a minute and turned near Jordanian border.

• The aircraft was then diverted and made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

• Machchhar was then taken to hospital and underwent surgery.

• His brother is also a pilot, who has worked with Akasa Air and has also been associated with flydubai.

• Machchhar himself lives in Dubai with his wife and children.