India, Oct. 2 -- The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a national bravery award or other appropriate national civilian recognition for Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was seriously injured while helping avert a potential disaster aboard flydubai flight FZ1073.

In a letter dated October 2, the pilots' body described Machchhar's actions during the September 30 incident as an act of "extraordinary courage, exceptional leadership and exemplary devotion to duty" and asked the Prime Minister's Office to consider him for recognition after verification of the facts by competent authorities.

According to the FIP, Machchhar was the pilot-in-command of the flydubai flight operating f...