Who is Captain Smit Machchhar: Smit Machchhar is an captain on flydubai’s Boeing 737 fleet since June 2022 who fought off a savage attack by his copilot and helped prevent an apparent hijack of a Flydubai plane heading to Israel with more than 170 people on board is being hailed as a hero.
Quick facts
- Smit Machchhar, the Indian-origin pilot joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain.
- According to his LinkedIn profile, he has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and has logged around 9,750 flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including the B737-800 and B737 MAX 8/9.
- Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet.
- He is talented, soft spoken, kind-hearted and a person with good nature.
- Captain Smit Machchhar was born around 1986 or 1987 in Mumbai, India and his age is 39 years as of 2026.
- He is married.
Keep Continue reading to know more about Captain Smit Machchhar.
Wiki/Biography
Here is the information about Smit Machchhar:
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Captain Smit M95achchhar |
| Profession | Commercial Airline Pilot / Captain |
| Current Airline | Flydubai |
| Previous Airline | SpiceJet |
| Aircraft Experience | Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8/9 |
| Flying Experience | 13+ years in commercial aviation |
| Total Flying Hours | Reportedly 9,750+ hours |
| Pilot-in-Command Experience | Reportedly 6,400+ hours |
| Pilot Training | New Zealand |
| Education | Textile Engineering and management studies |
| Known For | His role during the Flydubai FZ1073 emergency on September 30, 2026 |
| Emergency Landing | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia |
Captain Smit Machchhar Educational Background
He completed her schooling from private school and graduation from Welingkar Institute in Business Administration (2007–2008). After he completed his Business Administration (2007–2008) from Mainland Air Flight School, New Zealand.
| Stage | Institution / Location | What He Did |
| Schooling | — | Completed his school education |
| Textile Engineering | India | Initially studied Textile Engineering with plans to join his family textile business |
| Business Administration | Welingkar Institute, Mumbai | Pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (2007–2008) |
| Aviation Training | Mainland Air Flight School, New Zealand | Completed CC |
| Boeing 737 Type Rating | FSTC, Manesar, Gurgaon | Completed Boeing 737 type rating training |
Captain Smit Machchhar Career Journey
| Period | Airline / Position | Career Progress |
| 2011 | SpiceJet – First Officer | Started his commercial aviation career with SpiceJet in June 2011, flying Boeing 737 aircraft. |
| 2011–2020 | SpiceJet – Pilot / Commander | Progressed through flying roles and eventually became a Senior Commander, gaining extensive Boeing 737 experience. |
| Nov 2020 – Jun 2022 | SpiceJet – Line Training Captain | Took on a training role, conducting line training and checks while mentoring and assessing other pilots. He accumulated 9,500+ flying hours, including 6,400+ hours as Pilot in Command during his SpiceJet career. |
| June 2022 | flydubai – Direct-Entry Captain | Left SpiceJet after more than 11 years and joined flydubai as a Direct-Entry Captain. |
| 2022–Present | flydubai – Boeing 737 Captain | Continued flying Boeing 737 aircraft, including the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8/9. His professional profile lists 9,750+ total flying hours. |
| Sept 30, 2026 | Captain, flydubai Flight FZ1073 | During a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight, he was attacked by his co-pilot but managed to respond despite his injuries and help prevent a major disaster. The aircraft was subsequently landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. |
| Oct 2026 – Present | flydubai Captain / Recovery | Following the incident, Machchhar has been recovering from his injuries and has been widely recognised for his courage and professional response. |
Flydubai FZ1073 Incident: What Happened?
- On September 30, 2026, flydubai Flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- The aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 182 people, including passengers and crew.
- The flight departed Dubai International Airport at around 7:05 a.m. UAE time.
- Initially, the flight was operating normally.
- The aircraft climbed to around 34,000 feet.
- While flying near the Saudi-Jordanian border, a serious incident developed inside the cockpit.
- According to reports, the aircraft later experienced a rapid loss of altitude, creating an emergency situation.
What Happened Inside the Cockpit?
- According to Captain Smit Machchhar’s account, the co-pilot asked to pray during the flight.
- A few minutes later, Machchhar was reportedly struck from behind.
- The attack left the captain seriously injured.
- During the struggle, the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly.
- Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft dropping from around 34,000 feet to approximately 16,600 feet.
- Passengers reportedly felt the sudden descent and became frightened.
- The aircraft transmitted Squawk 7700, indicating a general emergency.
- It later transmitted Squawk 7500, indicating unlawful interference.
How Did the Flight End?
- Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar remained conscious and attempted to deal with the emergency.
- People outside the cockpit tried to gain access, but the co-pilot was reportedly preventing them from entering.
- Machchhar eventually managed to open the cockpit door from inside.
- Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot.
- Other qualified pilots travelling on the aircraft also helped operate the plane.
- The flight was diverted from Tel Aviv to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- The Boeing 737 MAX 8 landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport at approximately 10:45 a.m. UAE time.
- Captain Machchhar and the co-pilot were injured and received medical treatment.
- The passengers were later transferred to another aircraft to continue their journey.
- Authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel subsequently began investigating the incident.
Who Attacked Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, during flydubai Flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026.
Captain Smit Machchhar Age
He was born on year 1987–1988 and according to his date of birth his age is approx. 38–39 years as of 2026.His place of birth is Ghatkopar, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
| Detail | Information |
| Age (2026) | 38–39 years |
| Birth Year | 1987–1988 |
| Birthplace | Ghatkopar, Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Family Background | Family originally has roots in Gujarat |
Captain Smit Machchhar Family and Personal Life
| Family Member | Details |
| Father | Upendra / Bhupendra Machchhar |
| Mother | Upendra / Bhupendra Machchhar |
| Sister | Brother– 1 |
| Hometown | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
Is he married?
Yes, he is married and his wife’s name is Sonal Machchhar. Both have two children (a daughter Jeeva and a son named Krish). He lives with his wife and children in dubai.
| Detail | Information |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Sonal Machchhar |
| Daughter | Jeeva Machchhar |
| Son | Krish Machchhar |
What is the networth of Captain Smit Machchhar?
His estimate networth is approx. ₹8–15 crore. His major source of income is caption flying plane.
His Monthly income is given Below:
| Primary Source of Income | Aviation career as a flydubai Boeing 737 Captain |
| Estimated Monthly Salary | Around AED 66,500 (approximately ₹17.3 lakh) |
| Estimated Annual Income | Around ₹2.08 crore |
| Additional Benefits | Flying allowance, housing and transport allowances, education assistance, medical insurance and end-of-service benefits |
What is the height and width of Captain Smit Machchhar?
His height and width are not publicly disclosed or available in official media records. keep reading his eye and Hair color from below.
Physical appearance
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Read also- Alice Weidel Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Family & Partner
Thank you for taking the time to read this article about Captain Smit Machchhar. We hope the information shared here has answered the questions you were searching for and helped you better understand her background, education, family, career, and public story.
