Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has drawn international attention after a dramatic incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. Machchhar was reportedly injured during a violent confrontation in the cockpit after the aircraft was already in the air. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Reports said he managed to release the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. The circumstances of the incident and the motive behind it remain under investigation. (LinkedIn/X)

He did not begin his career with a childhood ambition to become a pilot. After completing Class 12, he initially pursued textile engineering before moving towards management. At 19, however, he attended an aviation seminar that changed his career plans. He subsequently travelled to New Zealand for commercial pilot training. According to reports, his pilot training cost around Rs 16–17 lakh at the time. After completing his training, he returned to India and began building his career in commercial aviation. (Image: X/@NitinNabin)

With more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and around 9,750 hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, Machchhar has built a career spanning SpiceJet and Flydubai. He joined SpiceJet in June 2011 and spent more than a decade with the airline. He operated Boeing aircraft and eventually rose to senior commander and line training captain. As a line training captain, he was involved in training and assessing other pilots during airline operations. (File Photo)

In June 2022, Machchhar moved to Flydubai as a direct-entry captain. His profile lists more than 9,750 hours of flying experience on the Boeing 737 family, including the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX variants. Reports citing his profile say he has accumulated around 9,750 hours flying Boeing 737 aircraft. More than 6,400 of those hours were reportedly logged as pilot-in-command during his time with SpiceJet. His experience also includes flying the Boeing 737 MAX, one of the aircraft types operated by Flydubai. (File Photo)

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when an incident involving the two pilots unfolded inside the cockpit. According to reports from Israeli officials and other sources, Machchhar was attacked by the co-pilot and seriously injured. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft rapidly lost altitude during the incident. Reuters reported that the aircraft descended by more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds. (File Photo)

Machchhar reportedly managed to release the cockpit door despite his injuries. Passengers and crew then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the other pilot. Additional Flydubai crew members who were travelling on the flight also assisted in securing the aircraft. The flight was diverted to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia and landed safely. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an incident while en route and that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. (Image: Instagram/@cszalakmehta)