India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Prime Minister Modi called the Indian pilot, Capt Smit Machchhar through video conference on Friday and commended him for his bravery and presence of mind when a mid-air emergency occurred during the flight operated by Flydubai.
Prime Minister Modi commended Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar on Friday for his bravery during a mid-air attack by his co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which resulted in an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The Indian pilot is said to have sustained injuries after being attacked and stabbed by his Omani co-pilot in the cockpit of a Dubai to Tel Aviv flight. Notwithstanding this, he is said to have saved the situation from becoming even more dangerous.
While talking to the Prime Minister, Machchhar got emotional and referred to this particular call as “a very special moment” while mentioning that he has always considered the Prime Minister as his “idol.”
#WATCH | PM Modi speaks with Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar through a video call and praises his courage, presence of mind and composure in how he saved many lives
The PM says to Captain Smit, “The whole country is praying for you. Maha Mrityunjay Jaap is being done for you and… pic.twitter.com/TCj3NDqASp
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
PM Modi Praises Pilot’s Courage
Based on the discussion between them, Modi told Machchhar that all Indians prayed for his quick recovery. He also complimented the captain for staying calm even in such a hard situation.
Modi said that through this episode, Indians are seen to be prepared to risk their lives for others. Modi appreciated the acts of Machchhar during the situation and appreciated the manner in which the pilot handled the situation.
During the conversation, there was an individual element of the discussion as Machchhar told Modi that in hard situations, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa. Machchhar said that he was doing the same thing while handling the situation in the plane.
He mentioned that he was very proud after getting the call from the Prime Minister and never expected that he would get a chance to talk to him.
#WATCH | While speaking to PM Modi, Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar says, “Whenever I am in pain, I recite Hanuman Chalisa. At that time too, I only kept reciting the Hanuman Chalisa…Today, one call from you makes me feel really proud…” pic.twitter.com/Ilkn34cf9D
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
Modi also talked about Machchhar’s mother, Geeta Ben, and the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita taught by her.
In the emotionally charged discussion, Machchhar confessed to Modi that he was his “biggest idol,” and recounted how he recited Hanuman Chalisa during the trying times on the flight.
What Happened Inside The Flydubai Cockpit?
Machchhar was at the helm of Flydubai’s flight FZ1073, which was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
During the flight, which had already reached over Saudi Arabian airspace, the alleged attack by the Omani co-pilot on Machchhar took place within the cockpit.
Despite being injured, Machchhar allegedly managed to open the door of the cockpit. The crew and passengers boarded the aircraft and overpowered the attacker.
According to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview, the aircraft experienced a dangerous drop while the event was taking place. Based on the information provided by flight-tracking data, the aircraft had fallen more than 14,000 feet within a minute.
It was then diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed in an emergency situation.
Netanyahu later complimented Machchhar and other people on board for acting heroically and preventing any disaster.
Modi Had Earlier Called It A ‘9/11-Style’ Threat
Modi had already congratulated Machchhar on his performance in the emergency on Thursday. Addressing a function commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Union Public Service Commission in New Delhi, Modi stated that the actions of the pilot had saved the nation from “9/11-style tragedy.”
The mention of September 11 refers to the 2001 attacks in America, where passenger aircrafts were hijacked and attacked in a coordinated manner, resulting in almost 3,000 deaths.
Modi had also assured the wife and parents of Machchhar that help is being provided by India through its missions.
President Droupadi Murmu had also complimented the pilot and stated that the nation is proud of him.
Captain Machchhar Shifted To UAE For Treatment
After the emergency landing in Tabuk, Machchhar was admitted to a hospital there for treatment. He was later moved to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for further medical care.
The Indian mission in the UAE has been coordinating with local authorities regarding his treatment. Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal also met Machchhar and his family at the hospital and said the pilot was recovering well.
Machchhar’s parents, Upendra and Gita, travelled to the UAE to be with him. His wife Sonal and their two children were already there.
Pilot Has Over A Decade Of Flying Experience
Machchhar has more than a decade of experience in aviation. Before joining Flydubai, he worked with SpiceJet and received his pilot training in New Zealand.
The co-pilot involved in the incident has been identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national. His name has not been publicly disclosed.
The circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack and the co-pilot’s alleged actions remain under investigation.
