Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar to be honoured in US Congressional Record for saving 172 aboard

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar whose bravery helped save 172 passengers and crew members aboard a Flydubai flight after a fellow pilot allegedly attacked him with an axe will be honoured in the Congressional Record of the United States House of RepresentativesIndianAmerican Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi announced on Thursday that he would enter a statement into the Congressional Record on Friday recognising Machchhars extraordinary courage during the September 30 incident aboard Flydubai Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel AvivThe Illinois Democrat said the Indian captains actions helped avert a catastrophe after the aircrafts first officer attacked him and attempted to seize control of the planeAccording to Krishnamoorthis statement the aircraft plunged around 16000 feet in just 30 seconds during the incidentDespite suffering serious injuries Captain Machchhar managed to reach the cockpit door and open it allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attackerTwo reserve Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and landed the plane safely in Tabuk Saudi ArabiaThe flight was carrying 172 passengers including four American citizens and 27 children according to the Congressmans statementCaptain Smit Machchhar an Indian national has 17 years of flying experience including 11 years as a captainIn his statement prepared for the Congressional Record Krishnamoorthi praised the pilots determination to protect those aboard despite facing a lifethreatening attackEven as Captain Machchhar fought for his own life he understood that the lives of everyone aboard depended on what he did next the Congressman saidDespite his injuries his years of experience told him that the aircraft was going down and he found the strength to reach that doorKrishnamoorthi said the captains quick thinking and determination had given others aboard the aircraft an opportunity to interveneHis presence of mind determination and courage gave the passengers and crew the chance they needed to stop the attack and avert a catastrophe he addedThe Congressman also drew attention to the families whose loved ones survived the incidentBehind every person aboard Flight 1073 is a family that was spared an unimaginable loss he saidBecause Captain Machchhar refused to give up the passengers and crew aboard that aircraft had the chance to return to the people who love themKrishnamoorthi urged fellow lawmakers to join him in recognising the Indian pilots actionsWe extend our warmest wishes to him his wife Sonal their two children and their entire family and we hope for the captains fullspeed recovery from his injuries at the earliest he saidThe Congressional Record is the official record of proceedings and debates in the US CongressLawmakers use it to document legislative proceedings and place statements recognising individuals organisations and significant events on the Congressional recordThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever