Rajya Sabha MP Sahney announces ₹25 lakh bravery award for Capt Smit Machchhar
Synopsis
A Rajya Sabha MP has put ₹25 lakh on the table and written to the Prime Minister seeking the Ashoka Chakra for a pilot who fought off a cockpit attacker at 30,000 feet, saving 170 lives on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight — and is now turning that act of courage into aviation scholarships for Punjab's poorest youth.
Key Takeaways
Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney announced a ₹25 lakh 'Smit Machchhar Bravery Award' on 3 October 2026 .
Captain Smit Machchhar reportedly saved approximately 170 passengers by repelling a cockpit attack on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight despite sustaining serious injuries.
Sahney has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommending Captain Machchhar for the Ashoka Chakra and a national bravery award.
Pilot-training scholarships in Machchhar's name will be introduced to support economically disadvantaged youth in Punjab .
The existing initiative already covers nearly 20 skill-training courses , including aviation, and has produced at least one commercial pilot — Kulveer Kaur from Barnala .
Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on Saturday, 3 October 2026, announced a ₹25 lakh 'Smit Machchhar Bravery Award' to honour Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary courage during a life-threatening cockpit attack aboard a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Captain Machchhar reportedly acted with remarkable presence of mind, helping avert what could have been a catastrophic tragedy and safeguarding the lives of approximately 170 passengers.
The Act of Bravery
According to reports, Captain Machchhar faced a direct physical threat inside the cockpit mid-flight and, even while injured, maintained control of the situation. His swift response is credited with preventing a large-scale disaster. Sahney described the act as representing 'the finest spirit of India', adding that such selflessness should serve as an enduring source of inspiration for younger generations.
Sahney Writes to PM Modi
Beyond the monetary award, Sahney has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that Captain Machchhar be considered for the Ashoka Chakra — India's highest peacetime gallantry honour — as well as a formal national bravery award. The letter underscores growing calls from public figures to formally recognise Machchhar's courage at the national level.
Scholarship in Machchhar's Name
Sahney also announced that the pilot-training programme for economically disadvantaged youth would be further strengthened through scholarships named after Captain Machchhar, translating his act of courage into lasting opportunity. The initiative is part of a broader effort providing free skill training across nearly 20 courses — including aviation — to thousands of youths in Punjab. One beneficiary of this effort is Kulveer Kaur, daughter of an Anganwadi worker from Barnala, who underwent pilot training in both India and South Africa and has since become a commercial pilot.
Significance and What Comes Next
The award and scholarship initiative together position Captain Machchhar as a symbol not only of individual bravery but also of what institutional support for underprivileged youth can achieve. Observers note that the Centre's formal response to Sahney's letter to the Prime Minister will be closely watched, as an Ashoka Chakra conferral would mark a significant state recognition of a civilian aviation crisis. The award announcement, made in Chandigarh, adds momentum to what is increasingly being viewed as a national conversation on recognising frontline courage in civilian settings.
Point of View
But the real story is the Ashoka Chakra letter — if the Centre acts, it would set a precedent for recognising civilian aviation heroism at the highest gallantry level, a category historically reserved for defence personnel. The linking of Machchhar's courage to a scholarship programme is the more durable intervention: it converts a single act of bravery into structural opportunity for underprivileged youth, something that outlasts any award ceremony. What remains unanswered is the status of any official inquiry or prosecution related to the cockpit attack itself — the perpetrator and the security lapse that allowed the assault have received far less public attention than the pilot's heroism.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar and what did he do?
Captain Smit Machchhar is a pilot who reportedly faced a life-threatening cockpit attack aboard a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite sustaining serious injuries, he acted with extraordinary presence of mind and helped avert a major disaster, safeguarding the lives of approximately 170 passengers.
What is the 'Smit Machchhar Bravery Award' announced by MP Sahney?
It is a ₹25 lakh cash award announced by Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney on 3 October 2026 to honour Captain Machchhar's exceptional courage during the cockpit attack. Sahney described it as recognition of the 'finest spirit of India' and a source of inspiration for younger generations.
Has Captain Machchhar been recommended for the Ashoka Chakra?
Yes. Sahney has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that Captain Machchhar be considered for the Ashoka Chakra — India's highest peacetime gallantry honour — as well as a formal national bravery award. The Centre's response to the letter is awaited.
What scholarships are being introduced in Captain Machchhar's name?
Sahney announced that pilot-training scholarships for economically disadvantaged youth will be established in Captain Machchhar's name, building on an existing initiative in Punjab that already provides free skill training across nearly 20 courses, including aviation.
Who is Kulveer Kaur and how does she relate to this story?
Kulveer Kaur is the daughter of an Anganwadi worker from Barnala, Punjab, who benefited from Sahney's existing pilot-training support programme. She underwent flight training in both India and South Africa and has since qualified as a commercial pilot, serving as an example of the initiative's impact.
