Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar , hailed as a hero for fighting off the co-pilot trying to crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was able to avert a tragedy because of “muscle memory” even after being stabbed, according to his friend and neighbour, who is a doctor.
“I have been in touch with him since a long time, but recently he shifted to Dubai, so I was not in touch on a regular basis. But we spoke whenever he came to meet his parents in the building. “Smit is a caring father and a very responsible person. He has been training pilots and has an academy of his own and may be that is why he has the knowledge of what to do in an emergency, he added. Muscle memory is the ability to perform a physical movement automatically without conscious thought, built through repetition and practice. The pilot is being hailed as a hero. “In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.
“Smit is a really nice person, a kind-hearted one and a very mature person,” said Jinit Shah, a urologist and a neighbour of the pilot’s family in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area. He has a family of four, including two kids,” Shah said. The doctor said Smit is very good at quick decisions. “Because of muscle memory, he might have been able to handle the situation even after being stabbed and save 174 lives,” he said. “Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” wrote Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X. He added, “India is proud of Captain Machchhar.”
