Mumbaikars gather outside pilot Smit Machchhar’s home
Hundreds of Tricolour-waving citizens assembled outside the residence of Captain Smit Machchhar in Tilaknagar in the eastern part of Mumbai on Thursday to honour his bravery as accolades poured in for his action. Some also sought a gallantry medal for him.
Holding his photographs, those assembled outside Swastik Heights residential complex prayed for Machchhar’s quick recovery.
Amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, several of those who gathered at Tilaknagar sought a gallantry award like the Shaurya Chakra, or even the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, for Machchhar.
“I have known Captain Smit since he was a child, and his family is very dear to me. I was also involved in business with his father for some time. His father raised both his sons, Smit and his brother, remarkably well. We are deeply proud of what he has achieved. His patience and presence of mind helped avert a serious disaster,” his neighbour Daulatbhai Vora said.
Childhood friend Pratik Gandhi described Machchhar as an ambitious yet deeply grounded individual. “Smit is my childhood friend. We played cricket together, and I have seen his journey first-hand. We would often talk about his ambitions, his career growth, and his drive to do better,” Gandhi said.
Smit was well known for his calmness, presence of mind, and composure, even in high-pressure situations, Gandhi added.
Amit Soni, a childhood friend of Smit who used to play cricket with him, described him as a very cheerful and lively person.
“We are deeply concerned about his health. Not just those who know him, but every Mumbaikar is proud of him,” he said. Soni said his parents live in a flat in the residential complex, while Machchhar, his wife and two children live in Dubai. They often visit Mumbai, he added.
Accolades poured in Machchhar with his childhood friends, neighbours from the Mumbai building where he lived until a few years ago, and politicians were among those who hailed Machchhar as a hero and praised his courage.
They also prayed for the speedy recovery of the pilot, who is currently being treated at a hospital in Saudi Arabia and has received high praise nationally and globally, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu. Janit Shah, a urologist and a neighbour of the pilot’s family in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area, said Machchhar was able to avert a tragedy because of “muscle memory” even after being stabbed.
“Smit is a really nice person, a kind-hearted one and a very mature person,” he said.
The doctor said Machchhar is very good at quick decisions. He has been training pilots and has an academy of his own, and that his “muscle memory” might have helped him handle the situation even after being stabbed and save lives.
Several residents of Swastik Heights in Ghatkopar, where the pilot’s parents live, said that they were proud of him and were praying for his speedy recovery.
Ashok Makwana, chairman of the housing society, and Laxmikant Joshi, both close friends of Machchhar’s father Upendra, said they have been providing support to the family. The two said they remained with the family throughout Wednesday following the incident. The building residents said they planned to give Machchhar a grand welcome and celebrate his return after his recovery.
BJP MLA Parag Shah, who is from Ghatkopar, said Machchhar was out of danger. “Smit is also from the same school. He was junior to me. His parents are here. His parents flew to Dubai,” Shah said.
The MLA said he had spoken to Machchhar’s uncle, who was too disturbed to interact with others and did not have all the details about the incident. “Senior officials from Flydubai are with Smit, and they are updating the family on an hourly basis,” he said.
