'Stuff Of Which Heroes Are Made': Maj Gen. GD Bakshi Hails Indian Pilot Captain Smit's Bravery

Maj. General (Retd). GD Bakshi has delivered a powerful tribute to Captain Smit Machchhar, the intrepid Indian pilot who faced certain death when a radicalized co-pilot launched a brutal axe attack inside the cockpit of a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight. Bleeding heavily from multiple wounds to the head, chest, and belly, Captain Machchhar displayed nerves of steel—manually wrestling control of the aircraft from a terrifying 17,000-foot terminal dive to save 180 lives.

Maj Bakshi further noted that he successfully sent out emergency squawk codes and unlocked the cockpit door just in time for passengers to overpower the attacker. Highlighting his unmatched tenacity, supreme sacrifice, and devotion to duty, Maj Bakshi calls for him to be honored with India's highest peacetime gallantry medal, the Ashok Chakra.