‘He was my junior in school’: Maharashtra BJP MLA on his connection with FlyDubai hero Smit Machchhar

Parag Shah, the BJP MLA from Ghatkopar East, on Thursday said that he has spoken to the family of Indian FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured while foiling an alleged cockpit attack on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight. Shah said that the pilot is “out of danger” and that he is receiving hourly updates from airline officials at a Saudi hospital.

Machchhar’s family resides in Mumbai's Ghatkopar East area, the constituency Shah represents. The MLA said he visited the pilot’s home and later spoke to his uncle, as the parents had already left for the Gulf.

“I am the chairman of the school where I studied, and Smit is also from the same school. He was my junior. His parents are here. After the incident yesterday, they flew to Dubai last night. They may not have reached Dubai yet; they are probably reaching now,” Shah told PTI.

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He added that the family initially did not want to meet people as they were still piecing together details. “They also have incomplete information and do not have all the details. However, the senior officials of FlyDubai are there with Smit Machchhar at the hospital in Saudi Arabia and are giving his family updates on an hourly basis. He is out of danger, he is safe and is otherwise fine,” Shah said.

According to Shah, Machchhar’s parents first travelled to Dubai and were proceeding to Saudi Arabia to be with their son, who is being treated in Tabuk, a city in northwestern Saudi Arabia where the flight made an emergency landing.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has said the captain is admitted to a hospital in Tabuk and is in stable condition, receiving necessary medical attention.

Heroics in the cockpit

The incident unfolded on Wednesday on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an “altercation” broke out in the cockpit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot allegedly tried to crash the aircraft and stabbed Captain Machchhar, who nonetheless managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

Two standby pilots travelling as passengers, then helped land the Boeing 737 safely at Tabuk airport. All 174 people on board were reported safe, while both pilots were taken to hospital. Saudi authorities have taken the suspected attacker into custody as investigations begin.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Machchhar’s wife and parents, assuring them of all support and calling the pilot a source of pride for India. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also hailed Machchhar as a “true hero” for saving hundreds of lives.