‘I Knew I Had to Act’: Flydubai Captain Tells PM Modi

• Captain Machchhar recounted the mid-air cockpit attack to PM Modi from a UAE hospital.
• He said his focus remained on protecting passengers despite sustaining serious injuries.
• The pilot said he recites the Hanuman Chalisa when facing difficult situations.
• PM Modi praised his courage and said his actions helped save lives.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Oct: Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar on Friday recounted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi how he fought through serious injuries after being attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying his priority was to prevent the loss of passenger lives.

Machchhar, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE, spoke to Modi over a video call. He described how, despite being badly injured, he forced himself to regain control and respond to the unfolding emergency.

“I was fighting for my life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” Machchhar told the Prime Minister.

The Mumbai-born pilot said he had been flying aircraft for 17 years, including 11 years as a captain. He recalled that after sustaining multiple injuries, he realised the aircraft was descending and pushed himself to act.

“I told myself that I have to get up and act. At that time, I pushed myself to open the cockpit door,” he said, while also acknowledging the role played by others during the incident.

Machchhar also told Modi that he turns to the Hanuman Chalisa during difficult moments. Responding to the Prime Minister’s appreciation of his faith and cultural connection, the pilot said, “I am away from the country, not from our culture.”

Modi praised Machchhar’s composure and presence of mind, saying he had acted in a critical moment while prioritising the safety of passengers over his own injuries.

The Prime Minister also told the pilot that prayers had been offered for his recovery at temples across India and that people were reciting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. He expressed gratitude to the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the treatment being provided to Machchhar.

The pilot became emotional during the conversation and described the call as a special moment. He told Modi that he regarded him as his biggest idol and said he had never imagined getting an opportunity to speak with him.

Modi also spoke about Machchhar’s mother, Geeta Ben, and the values with which he was raised. The Prime Minister briefly spoke to the pilot in Gujarati, reflecting his connection to Gujarat.

The incident involved flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft transmitted emergency signals after the reported cockpit attack and subsequently made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

According to the account cited in the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an Israeli passenger had told him that the aircraft went into a spin and began descending. The passenger and a crew member subsequently entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, who was alleged to have attacked the captain and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s systems.

Modi later described his conversation with Machchhar as an “unforgettable conversation” marked by pride and emotion. He had earlier praised the captain’s courage, patience and determination in the face of the emergency.

The Prime Minister also linked the pilot’s actions to the message of Gandhi Jayanti, saying that Machchhar had demonstrated what he described as the true meaning of Ahimsa.