National bravery award sought for flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar

NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider awarding flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar a national bravery award for his actions during the serious in-flight emergency.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the FIP said Captain Smit Machchhar continued to perform his duties as pilot-in-command despite sustaining injuries in an alleged attack by his co-pilot. The federation said he remained at his post and helped keep the aircraft under control during the emergency.

The FIP said Smit Machchhar’s actions demonstrated that, even when faced with a serious emergency and severe injuries, a professional pilot’s foremost responsibility remains the safety of the people entrusted to their care.

The federation said acts of such exceptional courage deserved recognition at the highest level and requested that Smit Machchhar be considered for an appropriate national bravery award.
Separately, Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora had also urged Prime Minister Modi to consider Captain Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra.