Last Updated:
Machchhar said in the initial stages of career, pilots should not focus on where they fly or which aircraft they operate. Instead, he said, the focus should be on “why you fly.”
Smit Machchhar appeared on the podcast last year. (Image: Instagram/@cszalakmehta)
Nearly a year before Indian pilot Smit Machchhar found himself at the centre of a terrifying mid-air emergency, he had shared a valuable piece of advice for aspiring pilots.
Machchhar advised aspiring pilots to focus on gaining experience and honing aviation skills rather than chasing a particular airline, aircraft or social-media image.
Machcharwho was reportedly injured during a violent cockpit brawl with his co-pilot on a Flydubai flight on Wednesday, had spoken about the early stages of a pilot’s career in a podcast recorded last year.
While sharing his message for young pilots, Machchhar said that in the initial stages of their careers, pilots should not focus on where they fly or which aircraft they operate. Instead, he said, the focus should be on “why you fly.”
Watch The Video Here
“And I always suggest to my kids as well; you know, at first don’t have preferences. No, I want to fly from here. Like, no. Fly. For a pilot to gain that experience and to refine your skills is what a pilot is. Not to post something online, you know. Selfie and all. This has changed so much,” he said.
The comments have resurfaced after Machchhar was identified as the captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk, following an altercation in the cockpit.
Who Is Smit Machhar?
Smit Machchhar, a former SpiceJet pilot, joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. He is currently based in Dubai. 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, where he worked as a senior commander and later as a Line Training Captain. His profile says he logged more than 9,500 hours during his time with the airline, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. He also conducted line training, pilot checks and mentoring.
His professional profile highlights expertise in crew resource management, flight standards, compliance and Boeing 737 operations.
What Happened On Flydubai Flight?
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with approximately 180 passengers and crew when a fight broke out between the two pilots in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe and said it was cooperating with authorities.
Reports from Israeli officials and passengers said the incident involved a violent confrontation between the two pilots. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain. The exact sequence of events and motive remain under investigation.
The aircraft also transmitted emergency signals, including a code associated with unlawful interference, triggering fears of a possible hijacking and prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets. The plane then plunged sharply before diverting to Tabuk.
Passenger accounts described screams and a chaotic scene in the front of the aircraft.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Nearly a year before a mid-air emergency, Smit Machchhar advised aspiring pilots to prioritize gaining experience, refining aviation skills, and focusing on why they fly rather than chasing specific airlines, aircraft types, or social media image and selfies.
Ask News18About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More
September 30, 2026, 10:24 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
