Calm, Disciplined and Humble: Mumbai Neighbours Recall Pilot Smit Machchhar’s Heroic Act

Machchhar, an Indian pilot with flydubai, was injured during a confrontation with the co-pilot on Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday. Despite sustaining injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All 174 people on board were reported safe.

Back in Mumbai, people who have known Machchhar since his childhood said the composure he displayed during the emergency reflected the personality they had seen over the years.

Prateek Gandhi, a childhood friend and neighbour, said he felt proud seeing someone from his own residential building play a role in protecting so many lives.

“He was someone who grew up with us, and it makes me proud that someone from our building has contributed to such a cause,” Gandhi said.

Recalling Machchhar's ability to remain composed under pressure, Gandhi added, “With his sixth sense and presence of mind, he saved 174 people.”

Gandhi described Machchhar as calm and composed even during his childhood, suggesting that those qualities may have helped him maintain his focus when the situation inside the aircraft became critical.

“A person might change, but the base of that person remains the same,” Gandhi said.

He also said videos that emerged from inside the aircraft after the incident appeared to show Machchhar remaining composed despite the unfolding crisis.

An older neighbour who has known Machchhar's family for years recalled seeing him play around the residential complex when he was a child.

“He used to play around in the building. While growing up, he kept to himself and never bothered anyone,” the neighbour said.

The neighbour described Machchhar as disciplined and hardworking, qualities he believed contributed to his decision to pursue a career in aviation.

“He was very disciplined and worked hard. That is how he became a pilot,” he said.

Reflecting on the incident aboard the flight, the neighbour said he struggled to put his emotions into words.

“I don't have words to explain how I felt after the incident,” he said.

Another family friend described Machchhar as a humble and “amazing” person and said she was praying for his safety and recovery.

“He is a really good friend of mine. I am praying for his safety and hoping that he is doing well,” she said.

She added that Machchhar's parents live in India, while his wife and children are based in Dubai.

“He is wonderful and an amazing person, and just very humble,” she said, while highlighting the fact that he continued to act during the emergency despite being seriously injured himself.

Machchhar previously spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022. He has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and has accumulated over 9,500 flying hours, according to publicly available information.