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ABVP demands Ashok Chakra for Captain Smit Machchhar

  • On Wednesday, Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar saved 174 passengers during a flight to Israel after his co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attacked him with an emergency axe; despite serious injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing crew to subdue the attacker.
  • UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi classified the incident as terrorism, noting investigations found al-Hammami had been reassigned after authorities identified radical views as the Boeing 737 plunged nearly 14,000 feet.
  • The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where medics treated the injured pilot; officials confirmed Machchhar is stable following surgery, with his family receiving assistance from Indian, Saudi, and United Arab Emirates authorities.
  • Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the pilot, praising his courage, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his "tremendous courage" for preventing a disaster.
  • Air Force Chief Amar Preet Singh hailed Machchhar's "presence of mind," framing the incident as a lesson for aviators as the event highlights deepening security cooperation between India, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.
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The Free Press Journal broke the news in Mumbai, India on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
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