Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Former Colleague Praises Pilot’s Response to Cockpit Attack
Tina Goswami used to work with Captain Smit Machchhar.
She said he acted quickly when his co-pilot attacked him during a flight.
Pilots practise handling emergencies together, but this danger came from inside the crew.
Goswami said Machchhar had to respond on his own.
She explained that pilots practise in simulators every six months and train in crew coordination each year.
Machchhar reportedly tried to open a door because he thought it could help save people.
The aircraft landed safely.
Goswami said he helped protect the 170–180 passengers on board.
She called his actions heroic.
Former colleague Tina Goswami said Captain Smit Machchhar showed presence of mind while fighting his co-pilot.
Goswami said airline training emphasizes teamwork against external threats, but Machchhar faced an internal threat alone.
She said pilots receive simulator training every six months and crew coordination training annually.
Goswami said Machchhar tried to open the aircraft door, believing this could help save those aboard.
She said his actions helped the aircraft land safely and may have prevented a worse outcome for 170–180 passengers.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar and his former colleague Tina Goswami; the report says his co-pilot attacked him.
- What
- Goswami praised Machchhar’s quick thinking during an alleged attempted attack aboard a flydubai flight.
- When
- Goswami spoke on Monday; the report describes the incident as occurring the previous day.
- Where
- Aboard a flydubai flight; no specific route or location is given.
- Why
- Goswami said Machchhar acted to help save those aboard after facing an internal threat.
Machchhar’s response
Nature of the threat
How the emergency differed from training
Machchhar’s response
Goswami praised Machchhar’s quick thinking and said his actions helped the flight land safely.
Nature of the threat
Goswami said pilots are generally trained to handle external threats through teamwork, whereas this was an internal threat that Machchhar had to fight alone.
- Former colleague
- Tina Goswami
- Pilot praised
- Captain Smit Machchhar
- Airline
- flydubai
- Simulator training
- Every six months, according to Goswami
- Crew coordination training
- Annually, according to Goswami
- Passengers cited
- About 170–180
- Reported outcome
- The aircraft landed safely