'He's taught us courage': Friend on Indian pilot hailed as a hero

Friend Gosalia recently spoke about Indian pilot Machchhar, who has been hailed as a hero after an attack in the cockpit. He recalled that in 2024 their paths crossed in the sky while he was flying to London through Dubai airspace and recognised Machchhar’s voice on the radio; Machchhar was en route to Mumbai. “We greeted each other,” helium recalls. On Wednesday Machchhar was serving as captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when another aviator assaulted and stabbed him inside the cockpit. The Boeing 737 Max was diverted to Tabuk in north‑western Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar was taken to hospital. He remains successful a unchangeable condition, according to the Indian embassy successful Riyadh. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Machchhar a "true hero", saying helium saved the lives of 174 radical and prevented a "catastrophic mid-air disaster". For Gosalia the man at the centre of the incident is still known by his nickname “Smit Mac”. “He was a amusive guy, man – precise superb person,” helium says. "Outgoing person, jovial. Very jovial." They would meet during layovers in places such as Milan and Bangkok and play tennis‑ball cricket when they returned to Mumbai. Machchhar also helped younger pilots, teaching new recruits and passing on what he had learnt. “He was a precise disciplined flier,” Gosalia says. That discipline stemmed from years of training, including instruction from former Indian Air Force pilots who moved into commercial aviation. “That grooming gives you much focus, much discipline, and much absorption connected centrifugal skills,” Gosalia says.