New Delhi, 01 October (H.S.): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has praised Captain Smit Machchhar for what it described as exceptional courage following the incident aboard a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

RSS All India Publicity Chief Sunil Ambekar said Captain Machchhar had gone beyond the call of duty and helped save the lives of more than 170 people during the emergency.

In a post on the RSS’s official X account, Ambekar described Machchhar as a “true hero” and said the country was proud of his courage and timely action. He also wished the captain a speedy and complete recovery.

Captain Machchhar has remained at the centre of attention following the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. The aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a confrontation reportedly broke out in the cockpit.

According to reports, Machchhar was injured during the incident involving the co-pilot. The aircraft subsequently experienced a rapid loss of altitude before passengers, crew members and other pilots on board intervened.

The Boeing 737 was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Machchhar was taken to hospital for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.

The circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation, including the motive of the co-pilot, remain under investigation. Authorities have not publicly established a definitive explanation for the incident.

Machchhar’s actions have drawn praise from several political and public figures, who have highlighted his response during the emergency and expressed wishes for his recovery.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar