What a Flydubai pilot’s Hanuman Chalisa recitation says about finding calm in crisis
A Flydubai captain’s reported recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa during a cockpit emergency prompts Kiru Naidoo to reflect on illness, faith and the mental anchors that help people endure crisis.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, averted a potential disaster on flydubai Flight FZ 1073 on September 30, 2026. The plane, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, faced a grave safety crisis when its co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, a 29-year-old Omani national, allegedly radicalized, disabled the autopilot, and deliberately plunged the Boeing 737 MAX 8 from 34,000 feet.
Despite sustaining injuries, Machchhar quickly unlocked the cockpit door, allowing cabin crew and passengers to restrain the attacker and execute an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
In response to the brave actions of Captain Machchhar, Israel's President Isaac Herzog announced that he will be awarded the country's highest civilian bravery honor, the Medal for Civilian Bravery. Herzog expressed his gratitude, stating, "We wish him a full and speedy recovery. Thank you, Captain. Israel honors your bravery." The incident prompted a multi-agency investigation involving civil aviation and intelligence agencies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Oman, as well as assistance from the United States.
Initial findings indicate that while Hammami admitted to attempting a crash during interrogation, it appears he acted alone without direct orders from a foreign terror organization. The probe also uncovered gaps in cross-border security and vetting processes, which allowed the radicalized co-pilot to bypass standard criminal background checks and secure employment with flydubai.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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