Indian pilots seek bravery award for captain Smit from PM Modi as Israel honours him with Mumbai billboards

New Delhi: A formal push has now come from India’s pilot community for national recognition of Flydubai Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who remained at the controls after being attacked inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has approached the prime minister, Narendra Modi, asking the government to consider Machchhar for an appropriate national bravery award for his actions during the September 30 emergency.

Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members when the cockpit incident unfolded. According to the FIP, Machchhar was attacked with a crash axe by the first officer and suffered injuries, but continued to perform his duties as pilot-in-command and helped divert the aircraft safely to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

The pilots’ federation said Machchhar faced an unusual situation in which the threat was not an external emergency but an attack within the flight deck itself. It said his decision making and continued control of the aircraft despite being injured showed exceptional courage, leadership and commitment to the safety of those on board.

In its October 2 letter to the PMO, the FIP said the safety of 182 people depended on the flight crew’s ability to retain control of the aircraft during the crisis. The federation said Machchhar’s conduct under extreme personal danger deserves recognition at the national level.

The FIP has therefore requested consideration of an appropriate national bravery award or other national civilian recognition, depending on the applicable rules and assessment of the incident. The federation also noted that Machchhar had been its member until 2022 and said it continues to consider him part of the wider Indian pilot fraternity.

Ashoka Chakra demand also gains attention

The FIP’s request comes amid separate calls on social media for Machchhar to receive the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.

The Ashoka Chakra has previously been awarded to civilians for exceptional courage. As previously reported by RNA Media, Neerja Bhanot received the honour posthumously for her actions during the 1986 hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, in which she helped protect passengers despite facing a life-threatening situation.

The calls for recognition come after Israel also acknowledged Machchhar’s actions. Israel honoured Smit Machchhar’s valour with billboards in Mumbai, adding another layer of public recognition for the Indian pilot’s actions during the emergency.