Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced on Thursday that pilot Smit Machchhar will receive the Visisht Gujarat Garima Award after his heroic intervention on a Flydubai flight that carried 174 passengers. The announcement came as the pilot is receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia following a violent incident.
Machchhar was stabbed by his co‑pilot, who allegedly tried to crash the aircraft bound for Tel Aviv. The attack was thwarted when Machchhar overpowered the co‑pilot and regained control of the cockpit. The flight landed safely in Saudi Arabia, where the pilot is now under medical care.
Patel praised Machchhar as a 'son of Gujarat' and a source of national pride. The state announced prayers for his recovery, including a special Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa at the Somnath temple. The ceremony to present the award will take place in Gandhinagar.
Although a native of Gujarat, Machchhar's family has resided in Mumbai for decades, adding a layer of pride for both cities. The Somnath temple trust compared his actions to the 9/11 incident in a post on X.
The award will be handed over to Machchhar during a ceremony next week, while he continues to recover in Saudi Arabia.