Petition to Confer the Ashoka Chakra upon Captain Smit Machchhar
The Issue
To
The Hon’ble President of India
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
The Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Subject: Petition urging the Government of India to consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra for exceptional gallantry, selflessness and presence of mind in saving 174 lives
We, the undersigned citizens and well-wishers of India, respectfully urge the Government of India to formally consider Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian commercial airline pilot, for the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
On 30 September 2026, Captain Machchhar was the commander of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 when an extraordinary and life-threatening incident unfolded inside the cockpit.
During the flight, Captain Machchhar was violently attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot. At the same time, the aircraft entered a severe descent, reportedly losing approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Captain Machchhar was himself seriously injured and fighting for his own survival. Yet, despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter the flight deck and overpower the attacker. Other qualified pilots who were aboard the aircraft were subsequently able to take control, and the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
174 passengers survived.
Captain Machchhar’s actions went far beyond the ordinary discharge of his professional responsibilities. While seriously injured and under an immediate threat to his own life, he continued to act in a manner that gave the people entrusted to his care a chance to survive.
He fought to save others when he himself needed saving.
His conduct demonstrated extraordinary personal courage, selflessness and presence of mind in circumstances of extreme danger. The consequences of his actions extended far beyond his own survival, helping prevent what could have been a catastrophic loss of life.
His courage has subsequently received recognition at the highest levels. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, personally spoke with Captain Machchhar and publicly praised his courage and presence of mind. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, also publicly praised Captain Machchhar as a hero for his actions.
We recognise that the incident remains subject to investigation by the relevant authorities. This petition does not seek to prejudge those investigations, determine the motive of the alleged attacker, or interfere with any legal proceedings.
Rather, we ask the Government of India to consider the independently established facts concerning Captain Machchhar’s conduct and assess them under the appropriate criteria for the nation’s gallantry awards.
We therefore respectfully request that:
The Government of India formally consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra.
His extraordinary conduct in protecting the lives of 174 passengers while himself seriously injured be given full consideration under the applicable gallantry-award criteria.
Captain Smit Machchhar’s actions aboard Flight FZ1073 demonstrated courage under circumstances of extraordinary personal danger. He was seriously injured, confronted with a violent attack and simultaneously faced the possibility of an aviation catastrophe involving the lives of everyone on board.
Yet he continued to act to protect them.
We believe that such courage deserves the highest recognition that the Republic of India can bestow for gallantry in peacetime.
We respectfully urge the Government of India to consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra.
313
The Issue
To
The Hon’ble President of India
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India
The Ministry of Defence, Government of India
Subject: Petition urging the Government of India to consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra for exceptional gallantry, selflessness and presence of mind in saving 174 lives
We, the undersigned citizens and well-wishers of India, respectfully urge the Government of India to formally consider Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian commercial airline pilot, for the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
On 30 September 2026, Captain Machchhar was the commander of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 when an extraordinary and life-threatening incident unfolded inside the cockpit.
During the flight, Captain Machchhar was violently attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot. At the same time, the aircraft entered a severe descent, reportedly losing approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Captain Machchhar was himself seriously injured and fighting for his own survival. Yet, despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter the flight deck and overpower the attacker. Other qualified pilots who were aboard the aircraft were subsequently able to take control, and the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
174 passengers survived.
Captain Machchhar’s actions went far beyond the ordinary discharge of his professional responsibilities. While seriously injured and under an immediate threat to his own life, he continued to act in a manner that gave the people entrusted to his care a chance to survive.
He fought to save others when he himself needed saving.
His conduct demonstrated extraordinary personal courage, selflessness and presence of mind in circumstances of extreme danger. The consequences of his actions extended far beyond his own survival, helping prevent what could have been a catastrophic loss of life.
His courage has subsequently received recognition at the highest levels. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, personally spoke with Captain Machchhar and publicly praised his courage and presence of mind. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, also publicly praised Captain Machchhar as a hero for his actions.
We recognise that the incident remains subject to investigation by the relevant authorities. This petition does not seek to prejudge those investigations, determine the motive of the alleged attacker, or interfere with any legal proceedings.
Rather, we ask the Government of India to consider the independently established facts concerning Captain Machchhar’s conduct and assess them under the appropriate criteria for the nation’s gallantry awards.
We therefore respectfully request that:
The Government of India formally consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra.
His extraordinary conduct in protecting the lives of 174 passengers while himself seriously injured be given full consideration under the applicable gallantry-award criteria.
Captain Smit Machchhar’s actions aboard Flight FZ1073 demonstrated courage under circumstances of extraordinary personal danger. He was seriously injured, confronted with a violent attack and simultaneously faced the possibility of an aviation catastrophe involving the lives of everyone on board.
Yet he continued to act to protect them.
We believe that such courage deserves the highest recognition that the Republic of India can bestow for gallantry in peacetime.
We respectfully urge the Government of India to consider Captain Smit Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra.
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Petition created on October 2, 2026