MUMBAI: Residents of Swastik Heights at Tilak Nagar, Chembur, gathered in large numbers in the building compound on Thursday noon to raise a cheer for Captain Smit Machchhar and demand that the government bestow a civil honour on him.
Another family friend, Vipul Mehta, promised a “grand felicitation when Smit is back in Mumbai. Both, the Indian and Israeli prime ministers, hailed Machchhar’s courage and presence of mind. For his immediate family though, the concern is about Machchhar’s health. He is being treated at a military hospital at Tabruk in Saudi Arabia. Smit Machchhar, originally from Rajkot, grew up in the predominantly Gujarati middle class neighbourhood of Ghatkopar east where the family runs a printing press business. He studied at Ramji Assar and VS Gandhi Gurukul Technical School and did an MBA from Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool), Matunga.”He is a true hero in the skies. His courage, discipline and dedication inspires us all.
The pilot moved to Dubai in 2022 to work with flybydubai, according to Machchhar’s uncle Kishor. Prior to that he had worked for 11 years at SpiceJet where he was a senior commander and a line training captain who trained and supervised other pilots. Machchhar, 38, also started an aviation institute in Ghatkopar east called FlyBy Aviation Academy which is at present being managed by his cousin Pooja Ganatra. The pilot has logged 9,750 flying hours on the 737-800 and the 737 MAX 8 and 9. He completed his flying course from New Zealand and joined SpiceJet where he worked for 11 years.
“We are so proud that Smit saved so many lives,” said the pilot’s uncle Kishor Machchhar. On Thursday, American media called him the “Indian Sully” comparing him to Chesley Sullenberger, best-known for landing safely landing a US Airways flight on the Hudson River in New York after a bird hit disabled its engines. We are proud to see a Welingkar alumnus soar so high,” said Pankaj Natu, director, WeSchool.
Machchhar’s parents Upendra and Gita who live at Swastik Heights, left for Dubai on Thursday morning to be with Machchhar’s wife Sonal and their two grandchildren.
