Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar over a video call on Friday and praised the injured pilot for his courage, presence of mind and composure during the mid-air crisis.
Machchhar became emotional during the interaction and told Modi that speaking with the Prime Minister was a special moment for him. He also described Modi as his “biggest idol” and spoke about how he recited the Hanuman Chalisa while dealing with the emergency.
The interaction came two days after Machchhar was seriously injured after his Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed him inside the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
‘I used to say only Hanuman Chalisa’
During the conversation, Machchhar said he turns to the Hanuman Chalisa whenever he faces difficult situations.
He recalled that he was reciting it during the crisis as well, describing the prayer as a source of strength at a critical moment.
Modi told Machchhar that the country was praying for his recovery and praised the pilot’s actions during the emergency. The Prime Minister also spoke about Machchhar’s mother, Geeta Ben, and referred to the values and teachings associated with the Bhagavad Gita.
Pilot recalls fighting to regain control
Machchhar briefed Modi about what happened inside the cockpit and explained how he tried to respond despite suffering serious injuries.
The pilot said he realised the aircraft was going down after he had fallen to the floor. Drawing on his experience as a captain, he said he understood what was happening even while severely injured.
Machchhar said he crawled towards the cockpit door and managed to open it, after which others entered the cockpit.
According to accounts of the incident, passengers and crew members then intervened and overpowered the attacker. Other pilots on board subsequently helped divert the aircraft to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
Smit Machchhar recovering after attack
Machchhar, who was seriously wounded during Wednesday’s incident, was initially treated in Saudi Arabia before being shifted to the United Arab Emirates for further medical care.
India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Machchhar and his family at the hospital and said the pilot was recovering well.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 174 passengers when the incident occurred over Saudi Arabia. The circumstances surrounding the alleged cockpit attack remain under investigation.
During Friday’s interaction, Modi wished Machchhar a speedy recovery and again praised his response during the emergency.