Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot flying for Dubai-based Flydubai, has recently garnered international attention for his extraordinary courage during an in-flight incident. However, his path to the cockpit was far from conventional, a journey he shared in a podcast conversation in October 2025.
An Unlikely Start: Textile Engineering and Management
Machchhar's initial career trajectory was tied to his family's business. After completing school, he enrolled in a textile engineering course. Following this, he pursued further studies in management, aiming to contribute to the family enterprise.
It was during his management course, at the age of 19, that a pivotal moment occurred: he attended an aviation seminar. "Aviation was not like a childhood dream. It came along much later in my life," Machchhar recounted. This seminar introduced him to the intricacies of flying and ignited a newfound passion, setting him on a completely different course.
Flight Training in New Zealand and Early Commercial Flights
With his interest firmly established, Machchhar embarked on his flight training in New Zealand, marking his first time leaving India. He recalled being both excited and apprehensive during his initial familiarisation flight in a small aircraft. Researching aviation was not as easy then as it is with today's technology, adding to the sense of venturing into the unknown.
His first commercial flight, a route from Bengaluru to Delhi during his training, proved to be a significant learning experience. He described it as "scary" due not to the flying itself, but the immense responsibility. Nervousness led to mistakes, but he credits his senior examiners with guiding him through these challenges, teaching him the importance of composure in the high-stakes environment of an airline cockpit.
A Distinguished Career as a Boeing 737 Captain
Today, Captain Smit Machchhar is a highly experienced Boeing 737 captain with Flydubai, a role he took on as a Direct Entry Captain in June 2022. His LinkedIn profile highlights an impressive career spanning over 13 years of commercial flying, accumulating more than 9,750 flight hours.
Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent approximately 11 years with SpiceJet in Mumbai, where he served as a Senior Commander and Line Training Captain. During his tenure at SpiceJet, he amassed over 9,500 flying hours, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. His expertise includes crew resource management, flight standards, pilot mentoring, and extensive operations on both Boeing 737 NG and MAX aircraft.
His journey from a textile engineering student to a celebrated airline captain is a testament to embracing unexpected opportunities and demonstrating unwavering dedication in the face of immense responsibility.