Smit A Frequent Flyer To Hyderabad

Hyderabad:Captain Smit Machchhar, who was praised for saving 174 passengers aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 travelling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv, is a frequent visitor to Hyderabad, according to his close friend Captain Satyendra Singh.

Capt. Machchhar, a native of Maharashtra, lives near Dubai Airport with his wife, a homemaker, and their two children, aged eight and two. His friends describe him as family-oriented and someone who spends much of his free time with his family. They also recall him as friendly and willing to share his knowledge of aviation with colleagues.

Capt. Singh, a Hyderabad resident and close friend of Machchhar, told Deccan Chronicle that the two meet whenever Capt. Machchhar has a night halt in the city or his aircraft is being serviced at GMR Hyderabad.

“Last month, he was here at my place. Whenever there are night halts for Flydubai or the flight is being serviced at GMR, Hyderabad, we make sure that we meet up,” he said.

Capt. Singh said the two began their careers with SpiceJet at the same time and have each logged more than 10,000 flying hours. Capt. Machchhar joined Flydubai in 2022.

“We both started our career at the end of 2010 with Spice Jet. We have a record of flying more than 10,000 hours. In 2022 Capt. Machchhar joined Flydubai.”

Capt. Machchhar's hobbies include off-roading and driving in the desert.