Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Doctor Says Pilot’s Muscle Memory Averted Flydubai Tragedy
Captain Smit Machchhar was flying a Flydubai plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The report says the co-pilot allegedly tried to crash the plane.
Machchhar fought back and was seriously injured, including being stabbed.
Even while hurt, he managed to respond to the emergency.
His neighbour, doctor Jinit Shah, said training may have helped him react automatically.
This is called muscle memory, which means practiced movements can happen without much thinking.
The report says 174 lives may have been saved.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for his courage.
Shah also described him as a caring father of two children.
Captain Smit Machchhar allegedly fought off a co-pilot trying to crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar was seriously injured, reportedly stabbed while responding to the emergency.
Doctor and family neighbour Jinit Shah said repeated training and “muscle memory” may have helped Machchhar act quickly.
Shah described Machchhar as caring, responsible, mature and skilled at making rapid decisions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar as a hero for protecting passengers; the report says 174 lives were saved.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, doctor and neighbour Jinit Shah, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- Machchhar allegedly fought off a co-pilot trying to crash a Flydubai flight and was praised for protecting passengers despite being injured.
- When
- The report was published on October 1; the date of the flight was not specified.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv; Machchhar’s family lives in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area.
- Why
- Shah said Machchhar’s pilot training and muscle memory may have helped him respond quickly during the emergency.
- Pilot
- Captain Smit Machchhar
- Flight
- Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Reported lives saved
- 174
- Injury
- Machchhar was seriously injured and reportedly stabbed during the response
- Explanation
- Doctor Jinit Shah attributed Machchhar’s actions partly to training and muscle memory
- Praise
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a hero
- Family
- Shah described Machchhar as a father of two
