'I was reciting Hanuman Chalisa': flydubai pilot Machchhar tells PM Modi about cockpit ordeal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Captain Smit Machchhar for courage during a flight emergency involving a co-pilot. Machchhar recited the Hanuman Chalisa to maintain composure while facing danger, which he shared with the Prime Minister. Modi spoke with Machchhar and his family, highlighting his bravery in protecting passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke via video call with flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on Friday, praising his courage and presence of mind during an alleged attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight. During the conversation, Machchhar revealed that he recites the Hanuman Chalisa whenever he faces difficulty, which he did during the tense moments aboard the flight.
The Prime Minister informed Machchhar that the entire country was praying for him and commended his resolve to protect the passengers' lives. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also praised Machchhar, stating that he had thwarted a "9/11-like" disaster. The flight, FZ1073, carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, lost altitude rapidly and diverted to Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals.
Videos showed Machchhar in a bloodied state, wearing an oxygen mask and lying on the aircraft floor. An Israeli passenger claimed that a crew member and another passenger managed to overpower the co-pilot, who was accused of stabbing Machchhar and trying to sabotage the aircraft's systems. The UAE is investigating the incident, and the motive remains under investigation.
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