Jagan Praises Smit Machchhar for Averting Major Mid-Air Disaster

YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy praised the extraordinary courage displayed by Captain Smit Machchhar, averting a major mid-air disaster. Smit’s bravery helped save hundreds of lives and averted a great tragedy. “Hats off to Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage in saving the lives of the passengers and crew.

Despite being seriously injured, he remained steadfast in his commitment to passenger safety,” Jagan said in a post on ‘X’.

“A pride of India, he showed the world



the meaning of courage and selflessness. Wishing him a speedy and full recovery. A true hero,” he added. Smit was at the controls of a Flydubai flight Wednesday when a copilot stabbed him in an apparent attempt to crash the plane, with his actions to thwart the disaster drawing praise from world leaders. 

Smit, who hails from India’s financial capital Mumbai, was seriously injured as passengers rushed into the cockpit and restrained the attacker while the Boeing 737 descended sharply, according to witnesses and Israeli authorities.