Podcaster Zalak Mehta went on record Wednesday, citing a 2025 interview to defend Captain Smit Machchhar’s character. She told NDTV’s foreign affairs editor Aditya Raj Kaul that the flydubai pilot’s primary directive has always been passenger safety. "Something that has really stayed with me... is the selflessness that he portrayed during my rapid-fire round," Mehta said, recalling when she asked him to choose between a safe or a smooth landing. He chose safety. Every time.
The conversation resurfaced hours after Machchhar was stabbed in a cockpit struggle with his co-pilot on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. The pilot fought off the alleged attacker, saving the lives of at least 174 passengers. Bloodied images of Machchhar went viral, triggering a wave of global praise and prayers. Mehta admitted she initially refused to believe the news. "But, unfortunately, it was," she said, adding that her immediate concern shifted to his well-being while feeling immense pride in his actions.
Mehta emphasized that Machchhar’s demeanor during the crisis matched his personality off the flight deck. She described him as humble and calm, noting that he answered every question in their previous podcast with professional composure. That same calm was visible during his recent conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "He has it in him. He’s pretty calm and composed as a person," Mehta observed. The pilot had also previously discussed the importance of having a doctor on board, a detail that now seems prophetic given the severity of the cockpit incident.
In their prior chat, Machchhar revealed a pivotal life decision: at 19, he abandoned plans to join his family business to pursue aviation. He spoke passionately about the crew’s role in ensuring safety, stating that a safe landing was his personal responsibility. As the official investigation into the co-pilot’s actions unfolds, Machchhar’s pre-incident words have cemented his status as a hero. The next critical step is the medical evaluation of the pilot and the formal police report filed regarding the attempted hijacking.