On September 30, 2026, Captain Smit Machchhar saved 174 passengers after a mid-air hijacking attempt on Flydubai Flight FZ1073. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, “He is a proud Indian, and Gujarati blood flows in his veins.” Many social media users praised his bravery, calling him a true hero for everyone.
Meanwhile, a popular Instagram page, GujjuRocks, linked the event to the recent gang-rapes in Delhi and the subsequent protests, turning the avoided hijack into a “not all men” moment.
“On one hand, the ‘Delhi Buddies’ were busy with their ‘kachoris’ and ‘samosas’ and jokes about ‘men not being trustworthy,’ while on the other, 170 lives were being saved at an altitude of 34,000 feet, without a thought for personal safety,” reads the post by GujjuRocks which has a million followers on Instagram.
On X, users are busy discussing his case, with some claiming he is a Gujarati Nagar Brahmin.
“Another Gujarati has done something great but most Indians won’t celebrate this act of bravery because a Gujarati did it. This is the kind of racism and discrimination Gujaratis face,” wrote an X user.
A popular Gujarati page on Instagram, My Vadodara, called pilot Machchhar “Gujarati Gaurav” (Gujarat pride).
But others on social media said that Machchhar is first and foremost an Indian hero.
“I’m equally proud that he is a Gujarati. Gujaratis have contributed enormously to India. From Sardar Patel, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in public life to entrepreneurs like Ambani and Adani, who have created millions of jobs and contributed to society. Success or political differences should never become a reason to hate an entire community,” wrote Mittul Bakshi on X.
She added that when a Gujarati puts his own life at risk, he doesn’t think about Gujarati or Indian lives — he fights to save human lives.
‘Gujarati blood in his veins’
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Gujarat and the entire nation are immensely proud and that Gujarati blood flows in Machchhar’s veins.
“Despite being seriously injured, he fought back against the attacker, averting a major tragedy and saving the lives of 174 passengers. He is a proud Indian, and Gujarati blood flows in his veins — a true reflection of our resilience and courage,” Patel wrote on X. Patel added that this brave son of Gujarat has made the entire country proud on the global stage.
On September 30, 2026, Captain Machchhar successfully thwarted a mid-air hijacking and sabotage attempt aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073. The flight, bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv with approximately 180 passengers, plummeted when the Omani co-pilot stabbed Machchhar in an apparent attempt to deliberately crash the plane. Despite sustaining repeated stab wounds, captain Machchhar opened the door to the cockpit, allowing other passengers to come and take control of the aircraft.
Amit Chavda, president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, too called Machchhar a son of Gujarat.