Smit Machchhar

Legendary card · No. 2014

Smit Machchhar (born 1987/1988) is an Indian commercial pilot who, whilst working as the captain of Flydubai Flight 1073, was attacked in the cockpit by first officer Hamam al-Hammami, who attempted to hijack the aircraft. Machchhar received life-threatening injuries in the attack but managed to open the cockpit door from the inside, allowing crew and passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker. The aeroplane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with no fatalities. After sustaining trauma in the attack, he was treated at a hospital in Saudi Arabia and then flown by air medical services to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar worked at SpiceJet for 11 years and gained experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft. For his actions on Flight 1073, the President of the United Arab Emirates awarded Machchhar with the First-Class Order of Zayed II. The President of Israel honoured Machchhar with the country's highest recognition for civilian bravery...

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