Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naven Patnaik on Thursday joined others in praising the extraordinary courage and decisive action displayed by Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar of Flydubai flight.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister said Captain Smit Machchhar’s extraordinary courage and devotion to duty are deeply inspiring.
“Even after sustaining serious injuries, he put the lives of others before his own. His selfless sacrifice reflects the timeless Bharatiya ethos of ‘Seva Paramo Dharma. My heartfelt prayers are with Captain Machchhar and his family. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath bless him with strength, healing and a complete recovery,” Majhi said in his post.
BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik also commended Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage and decisive action in averting a catastrophe aboard a Flydubai flight.
He expressed immense pride in Captain Machchhar, who successfully thwarted a violent attempt by his co-pilot to crash Flight FZ1073, saving the lives of 174 passengers and crew members on board.
”Saluting Indian Captain #SmitMachchhar who displayed remarkable courage and swift action to save lives of passengers, onboard a flydubai flight,” Naveen said in a post on X.
“Despite being gravely injured, he fought off his co-pilot to save lives mid-air. India is proud of his bravery and humanity. Wish him speedy recovery and good health,” he added.
The appreciation follows the dramatic events aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Machchhar in an attempt to hijack and crash the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The resulting struggle caused the aircraft to enter a violent dive, losing nearly 16,000 feet of altitude in less than a minute.
Despite sustaining severe injuries, Captain Machchhar resisted the attacker and unlocked the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to rush inside, overpower the co-pilot, and assist in stabilising the aircraft.
The damaged jet safely executed an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Captain Machchhar was immediately hospitalised to receive treatment for his injuries.