State announces Rs 25 lakh cash reward for Gujarati-origin pilot who reportedly helped avert a major aviation tragedy despite being seriously injured in a cockpit attack
Gandhinagar, Oct 2026 : The Gujarat government will honour Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’ in recognition of his courage during an alleged cockpit attack that threatened the safety of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced on Thursday.
The state government has also announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for the pilot, sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed to IANS.
Patel said Machchhar demonstrated extraordinary courage despite being wounded and bleeding during the incident, helping protect the lives of all 174 passengers on board the aircraft.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the pilot’s actions had drawn admiration internationally and described his bravery as “extremely inspiring and commendable”.
Patel added that Machchhar, who has Gujarati roots, had brought pride to Gujarat and the country through his conduct during the emergency.
“To honour his extraordinary bravery and act of humanity, the Gujarat government will honour Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’,” the Chief Minister said. He also expressed hope for the pilot’s speedy recovery, noting that people across the state were praying for his health.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi separately announced the award on X, praising Machchhar for continuing to act despite being seriously injured.
“Gujarat honours Captain Smit Machchhar with the ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’,” Sanghavi said, adding that the state was proud of its “brave son”.
The announcement follows an incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit.
According to reports about the incident, the aircraft experienced a sharp descent before being diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to intervene and help restrain the attacker. Two passengers subsequently assisted in taking control of the aircraft, contributing to its safe landing.
The circumstances surrounding the cockpit altercation, including the motive behind the alleged attack, remain under investigation. Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and said the matter was being investigated.
The incident has attracted international attention, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praising the pilot’s actions.
Modi also spoke to Machchhar’s family on Thursday and described the injured pilot as a “hero”, saying his courage had helped avert a major tragedy.
Machchhar has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and approximately 9,750 flying hours. He joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after spending over 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a commander and line training captain.
The pilot is currently recovering in Saudi Arabia. The Gujarat government’s award and cash reward recognise his reported efforts to protect passengers and crew during the emergency.
