New Delhi. When a plane flying at a height of thousands of feet suddenly gets into trouble, the brain stops working. Travelers have little time to think. At such a time, a single decision by the pilot and crew of the aircraft can decide the future of hundreds of lives. Smit Machar and Neerja Bhanot are two such names who taught the world the lesson of humanity by risking their lives. Didn’t see whether the people were our own or strangers! Remember only the essence of duty and service to humanity.
From the bravery of Neerja Bhanot in 1986 to the bravery of Captain Smit Machar in 2026, these two names of two generations add to the glory of India’s Iqbal. Starting with Bhanot! On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked by terrorists at Karachi Airport. There were hundreds of passengers on board the plane and the situation was becoming increasingly serious. At that time, Neerja Bhanot, the senior flight purser of the aircraft, set an example of extraordinary courage.
After the cockpit crew left the plane, the major responsibility for the safety of the passengers fell on Neerja and her colleagues. Neerja collected the passports of the passengers as demanded by the terrorists, but separated many of the passports to hide the identities of the American citizens. When the situation worsened and firing started inside the plane, she helped the passengers move towards the emergency exit. During this, Neerja tried to save the children and other passengers. She herself fell victim to the bullets of terrorists and died. The Government of India posthumously awarded him the Ashoka Chakra for his courage. Pakistan also honored Neerja, who showed indomitable courage by erasing the difference between her own and others. He was posthumously awarded ‘Tamga-e-Insaniyat’.
Times changed, times changed but if nothing was found then the spirit of Indians to do something in every situation. Nearly four decades later, another such incident took place in the aviation world, in which an Indian pilot made an important contribution in saving the lives of 174 people by risking his life. The day of 30 September 2026 has been scratched on the chest of India. On the same day, a serious violent incident took place in the cockpit of flydubai’s Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Indian Captain Smit Machar was allegedly attacked with a knife by his fellow pilot. Despite being seriously injured, Smit did not forget his responsibility towards the safety of the plane and the passengers on board.
Later, with the help of passengers, a major plane accident was averted. After the incident, the plane was diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Smit was taken to the hospital and his condition was said to be stable. There is a difference of about 40 years between the incidents of Neerja and Smit. The circumstances were also completely different. In front of Neerja were armed kidnappers, while Smit’s enemy was his fellow pilot. But one thing remained the same in both the incidents: ‘Giving priority to the safety of others and one’s duty in times of crisis.
Neerja’s story became a story of sacrifice. She lost her own life while saving the passengers. In Smit’s story the danger was equally real, but after landing the plane safely and saving the lives of the passengers, he was able to reach the hospital for treatment. What is also special about these incidents is that the bravery in them was not shown in a battlefield. Inside an aircraft, limited space and quick decisions taken in a crisis made these Indians memorable.