PM Modi Speaks to Pilot Smit Machchhar Over Phone

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who is recovering in a UAE hospital after sustaining serious injuries in an alleged attack by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Modi enquired about Machchhar’s health and heard his account of the incident. The Prime Minister praised the captain’s courage, presence of mind and composure during the mid-air crisis.

During the conversation, Machchhar said he had been serving as a captain for 11 years and realised that the aircraft was descending rapidly after he was attacked. Despite suffering multiple injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and restrain the attacker. Machchhar also told Modi that he kept reciting the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal, which he said gave him courage.