New Delhi/Mumbai: Smit Machchhar. Unknown till a day ago, the flydubai pilot was the toast of the nation on Thursday for his courage in averting disaster by fighting off his co-pilot who was allegedly attempting to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight with 174 people on board.
From special prayers in Varanasi and the Somnath temple in Gujarat to large crowds carrying the tricolour gathering outside his parents home in Mumbai, from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the everyday social media user, he was hailed as the epitome of heroism everywhere.
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Machchhar was grievously injured in a knife attack and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
As drama unfolded in the skies on Wednesday, flydubai flight FZ1073 transmitted emergency signals and made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk city.
Videos of the violent cockpit confrontation in the Boeing 737 and a bloodied Machchhar did the rounds, propelling the Dubai-based pilot from Ghatkopar in Mumbai to a global sensation.
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Fulsome tributes came in from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Modi and President Murmu who hailed him for his "selfless act", "heroic courage", and "presence of mind" of putting his life at risk to avert a bigger tragedy.
Union ministers, political leaders and chief ministers across the spectrum praised his extraordinary bravery in saving the lives of so many.
Given the fact that he lived a low profile life much like thousands of other pilots, there was little known about Machchhar before Wednesday. As curiosity peaked, people scoured social media platforms for the slightest bit of information about him.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar has been serving as a captain on Flydubai's Boeing 737 fleet since June 2022, before which he worked with SpiceJet for 11 years.
It also claimed that he has 9,750 flying hours on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 and 9.
"Skilled in mentoring and assessing pilots, with a strong focus on safety, compliance, and operational excellence," his profile reads.
As the news of his heroic act reached his neighbourhood in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area, his neighbours and friends remembered him as being a "calm and composed person since childhood". His parents left home to be with their son and some neighbours dropped them to the airport.
"Smit is a very calm and composed person. He was the most 'sorted out' kind of kid in our housing society," childhood friend Prateek Gandhi told PTI.
"When we first heard the news, we were all shocked. First of all, we did not realise that he is our Smit. We now hear that he has been operated upon and is doing good," Gandhi, who lives in the same building as the pilot's family, said.
Another neighbour, Jinit Shah, said Smit is a "really nice person, a kind-hearted one and a very mature person". He added that Machchhar is a "caring father" of two children.
Machchhar, according to his LinkedIn profile, has also worked as a line training captain, which involves training and assessing other pilots.
Another neighbour, who described Machchhar as a close resident of their housing society, said the community was praying for his recovery and sending strength to his family.
"All the strength to him. I am really praying for him and his family, especially his mother, father and brother. It is really nerve-wracking. We are praying that his reports become normal," the neighbour said.
Machchhar, who pursued an online management degree from Welingkar Institute here in 2007-08, also received high praise from the B-school.
Dr Pankaj Natu, director, WeSchool, Welingkar Institute, described him as a "true hero in the skies".
"Your courage, discipline and dedication inspire us all. Proud to see a Welingkar alumnus soar so high," Natu said in a message.
His former employer, SpiceJet, also hailed Machchhar's "heroic courage" and offered "heartfelt prayers and deepest respect" to the pilot.
"Your heroism saved countless lives today. Captain Smit worked at SpiceJet for more than 10 years. His courage and selfless actions are a true embodiment of the values we hold dear at SpiceJet," the airline said in a post on X.
At the special prayers in Somnath temple for Machchhar's health and long life, the shrine management also initiated a 'Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa' ritual.
"The Somnath temple trust has organised a special grand worship for the health and long life of the nation's pride, brave pilot Smit Machchhar," the temple posted on its X account with a video of the prayers.
"During the flight to Tel Aviv, displaying indomitable courage, wisdom, and unparalleled dedication to duty, he foiled a cruel conspiracy like 9/11 and saved precious lives," it said.
In Varanasi, monks held prayers holding up a photograph of Machchhar.
Former cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar also took to social media to praise Machchhar for showing "extraordinary courage in the face of grave danger".
"Some moments show you what a person is truly made of. Captain Smit Machchhar showed extraordinary courage in the face of grave danger, putting the lives of others before his own despite being seriously injured. That kind of courage deserves the deepest respect. Wishing him strength, a speedy recovery and good health," Singh wrote on X.
Tendulkar hailed "incredible bravery" of Machchhar, who showed "immense courage in the face of a terrifying and unprecedented challenge".
X user Anvishka drew parallels between flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who helped save 360 passengers from a hijacked place in 1986, and Machchhar, saying, "1986: Indian flight attendant Neerja Bhanot saved 360 passengers from a plane hijacked by Palestinian terrorists, sacrificing her own life. 2026: Indian origin pilot Smit Machhar saved 180 passengers from an Omani attacker, risking his own life. When humanity is in danger, Indians step up."
Another user saluted him for refusing to give up even though he was wounded and bleeding inside the cockpit.
"...Thousands of feet in the air, with hundreds of lives at stake, he fought back and bought crucial time for the aircraft to be brought under control and landed safely in Tabuk. Some heroes wear capes. Some bleed in cockpits and refuse to surrender. India salutes you, Captain," they said in a post.
