Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian commercial pilot and flydubai captain whose name drew worldwide attention after he helped land a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight safely during a violent cockpit incident. Beyond that breaking-news account, readers are now searching for his education, airline career and flying experience.
Machchhar is a Mumbai native who did not grow up planning to become a pilot. His route to the cockpit began with textile engineering and management studies before an aviation seminar changed the direction of his career. He later trained in New Zealand, spent more than a decade with SpiceJet and joined flydubai in 2022.
Smit Machchhar profile at a glance
- Nationality: Indian
- Hometown: Mumbai, India
- Education: Textile engineering followed by management studies
- Flight training: New Zealand
- Previous airline: SpiceJet
- Current airline: flydubai, since 2022
- Reported flying experience: Nearly 9,750 hours
- Current condition: Recovering in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
No reliable public source reviewed for this profile gives his exact age. Claims circulating without a named source should therefore be treated cautiously.
From textile engineering to aviation
Machchhar came from a family connected with the textile business and initially followed that path. According to a profile published by Reuters, he studied textile engineering and later attended management studies at Mumbai's Welingkar Institute.
The turning point came when he attended an aviation seminar at about 19 years old. In a 2025 episode of the Bona-Fide Banter podcast, Machchhar said aviation was not a childhood dream. The seminar opened a career option he had not previously considered.
He then went to New Zealand for flight training. His mother was initially anxious about the decision, he recalled in the interview, but the family supported his move into aviation.
SpiceJet career and move to flydubai
Machchhar built much of his commercial flying career at SpiceJet, where he worked for more than a decade. Publicly reported professional details describe him as an experienced captain who also served in a training role.
He joined flydubai in 2022. Reports citing his professional profile say he has accumulated nearly 9,750 hours of flight time, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot in command. Those figures help explain why his professional background became a major part of the public discussion following the incident.
Flight hours alone do not establish every detail of what happened on board, however. The investigation and the airline's official account remain the appropriate sources for final conclusions about the event.
Why his old interview is trending
The 2025 podcast conversation has resurfaced because it shows Machchhar speaking about the less dramatic, everyday side of becoming a pilot: training, family concerns and the choices that led him away from the textile industry.
That interview is now being widely shared alongside official praise for his actions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Machchhar showed immense courage and valour and wished him a speedy recovery. The praise concerns his role in bringing the aircraft down safely; it should not be read as a substitute for the continuing investigation.
What happened on the flydubai flight?
Machchhar was operating a flydubai service from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The captain was seriously injured, while the passengers and other crew members were reported safe.
For the verified route, timeline and official responses, read our separate report on the Smit Machchhar flydubai flight incident. Contrary to some misleading online descriptions, this was not a Russia-bound flight.
Latest health update
India's Ministry of External Affairs said Machchhar was gravely injured but safe. He was being treated in Tabuk, with Indian officials coordinating with Saudi authorities and his family. The latest public reports described his condition as stable and said he was recovering.
Because medical information can change quickly, readers should rely on updates from the MEA, the Indian mission and flydubai rather than unverified social posts.
This profile was verified using Reuters' account of Machchhar's education and career, the Prime Minister's official statement and the Indian Express report on his health and interview. The thumbnail is taken from the original Bona-Fide Banter interview featuring Machchhar.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Smit Machchhar?
Smit Machchhar is an Indian commercial pilot from Mumbai. He worked at SpiceJet for more than a decade and has flown for flydubai since 2022.
What did Smit Machchhar study?
He studied textile engineering and later pursued management studies before choosing aviation as a career.
How many flying hours does Smit Machchhar have?
Reports citing his professional profile put his total experience at nearly 9,750 hours, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot in command.
Where is Smit Machchhar now?
He is recovering in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to the latest public update.
