10 October,2026 07:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Former commercial pilot Sanjay Mandviya, one of Capt Smit Machchhar’s earliest flight instructors, reminisces about their time together, in Andheri East on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The budding pilot I taught is a global hero who saved hundreds of lives - how can I not be proud of that? This is the pride every teacher hopes to feel one day when they see their student not only excel but become someone who the world looks up to," said Sanjay Mandviya, a former commercial pilot who taught Captain Smit Machchhar how to fly a plane in 2005.
On September 30, Capt Machchhar saved the lives of 172 passengers, four cabin crew, and two deadheading pilots while being seriously injured on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to Tel Aviv, Israel, after his co-pilot attacked him with the crash axe kept in the cockpit.
Mandviya, who consulted with Fly Wings Aviation, a flight training institute, in the late 2000s, was one of the instructors who taught Capt Machchhar before he went to New Zealand for further training. Though living in Gurugram, Haryana, Mandviya, who was in Mumbai for a few days, spoke to mid-day about his brave former student.
"Smit came to us as a young boy with ambition and passion to fly back in 2005. He visited our training centre in Juhu with his family to take a look at the facility and joined soon," Mandviya recounted.
According to Mandviya, Machchhar was passionate about a career in flying from the very start. "He was focused, fascinated, and serious about flying; everyone could see that. He finished our course in about a year, which is difficult to do, and then went to New Zealand. When he returned, in 2009-10, we trained him on Boeing planes. After that, he went on to become a pilot at SpiceJet, and soon became a captain, which is a great feat."
Mandviya added, "He was a pilot who respected his trainers immensely. He was always polite. He would touch my feet sometimes, which, while he didn't need to do so, showed that he bore respect for teachers. When such a student accomplishes things, every teacher in the world would know how much our hearts fill up with pride."
Mandviya said he was at home when I got to know about the infamous Flydubai flight. "A colleague of Smit's called me and told me that a flight Smit was on was embroiled in an incident and asked me to turn on the TV. It was a very shocking moment, but the second we understood that he was alive and was not in danger, the fear turned into pride that can't be explained."
He added, "Smit's uncle called me and asked if I had heard, and both of us were on the call, sharing our pride that a kid we saw grow into a man is now a global hero. Though I haven't been able to talk to him yet, whenever I do, it will be a very happy conversation."
"In the middle of the struggle, Smit had the presence of mind to open the cabin door, which let the passengers in, to separate the two pilots and take control of the situation. If the passengers panicked at that time, things would've been very different," Mandviya said, appreciating those who helped Smit when the aircraft was nosediving.
Talking about the two deadheading pilots on board, he said, "They controlled the situation beautifully and took over the flying. With the radar broken, they landed safely, not hurting anyone else on the plane. This is very hard to pull off since we depend on the radar while landing."
Mandviya believes that the control and speed with which the captain and the two pilots acted showed how well they were trained in their budding years. "No one is trained for such situations; these happen out of the blue. But acting in the right moment matters, and this comes along with good training when the pilots are still in the early stages of learning."
"I believe that this incident and Smit's bravery will be taught as a case study in Cockpit Resource Management classes in flight training schools. This will surely help many budding pilots know how to react in such situations even if they never happen again," Mandviya said.
He also believes that in the coming years many changes will occur in the manner in which pilots' mental health is treated in the industry. "Every airline has mental health evaluations, but after this, they will make sure that they properly clear pilots before sending them off to fly a plane full of passengers."
2005
Year Smit Machchhar started undergoing flight training
September 30
Day Capt Smit Machchhar was attacked
India Post has also joined the global buzz created by Smit Machchhar's valour and has recognised and acknowledged it. On Friday, October 9, on World Post Day, India Post released a commemorative special cover with a cancellation honouring the hero pilot. Presently, these covers are available only at the Thiruvananthapuram Philately Bureau, but we learn they will soon be available at other places. More cheers to the post-er (pun intended) boy of Indo-Israeli friendship.
