When Captain Smit Machchhar's name began doing the rounds as the pilot who helped avert disaster on a flydubai flight, the applause came with a raised eyebrow. Machchhar? As in the Hindi word for mosquito? A creature that has logged more flying hours than any airline captain, and has never needed a licence, a type rating or a single boarding pass?
Captain Machchhar was in command of flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when violence broke out in the cockpit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot stabbed the captain. Israeli officials have said that, despite serious injuries, Machchhar managed to operate the cockpit door release, letting passengers and crew in to overpower the attacker.
