Hanuman Chalisa fuelled Captain Smit Machchhar's cockpit courage, says Dhirendra Shastri
Synopsis
A pilot chanting the Hanuman Chalisa mid-crisis, a tearful video call with the Prime Minister, and a spiritual leader amplifying the story to millions — Captain Smit Machchhar's cockpit battle aboard a Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight has become one of the most compelling individual-courage stories of the year, with Dhirendra Shastri placing faith squarely at the centre of the account.
Key Takeaways
Dhirendra Shastri (Bageshwar Maharaj) praised Captain Smit Machchhar at a spiritual gathering on 4 October 2026 .
Captain Machchhar reportedly chanted the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting off an attacker — reportedly the co-pilot — inside the cockpit of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight .
The flight had more than 100 passengers on board at the time of the attack.
Captain Machchhar gave a first-hand, emotional account to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call on Friday .
The pilot said he chants the Hanuman Chalisa daily to his two-year-old son and credits the prayer with giving him strength in crisis situations.
Spiritual leader Dhirendra Shastri, widely known as Bageshwar Maharaj, on Sunday, 4 October 2026, cited the extraordinary account of Captain Smit Machchhar to underscore the power of devotion, saying the pilot's recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa gave him the inner strength to fight off an attacker inside the cockpit of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight and save more than 100 passengers on board.
What Dhirendra Shastri Said
Speaking at a spiritual gathering, Shastri said he felt immense pride in being a devotee of Lord Hanuman and in chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. He drew on the account of Captain Machchhar's video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to illustrate his point. 'Today, I take great pride in being a devotee of Lord Hanuman and in reciting the Hanuman Chalisa,' Shastri said, adding that a powerful sense of self-confidence emerges in those who hold faith in Lord Hanuman.
Shastri recounted that when Prime Minister Modi asked the captain where he found the courage to steady the aircraft in such a dire situation, Machchhar explained that he had begun chanting the Hanuman Chalisa at the very moment the plane started to plunge. According to Shastri's retelling, the prayer sustained the captain through the physical ordeal inside the cockpit.
Captain Machchhar's Account to PM Modi
Captain Machchhar had spoken to Prime Minister Modi on a video call on Friday, offering a first-hand account of the attack. The wounded pilot — visibly emotional, with tears flowing down his cheeks — described how he had nearly collapsed while attempting to stop the co-pilot, who is reported to have been the attacker, but pushed himself forward knowing that the passengers' lives depended solely on him.
'I knew that if I did not wake up, nobody would survive. I pushed myself to open the cockpit door. I kept chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, as I always do when confronted with difficult circumstances,' Captain Machchhar told the Prime Minister. He also shared that he takes his two-year-old son in his lap every day and chants the Hanuman Chalisa to him, describing it as a daily ritual of faith.
The Incident Aboard the Dubai–Tel Aviv Flight
The attack occurred aboard a flydubai flight operating the Dubai–Tel Aviv route. According to the account relayed by both Captain Machchhar and Shastri, the aircraft was carrying more than 100 people when a life-threatening situation unfolded inside the cockpit. The co-pilot has reportedly been identified as the attacker. Captain Machchhar is said to have risked his life to prevent a catastrophe, battling the assailant and ultimately regaining control of the aircraft.
Why the Story Has Resonated
The account has drawn widespread attention in India, amplified further by Prime Minister Modi's direct outreach to the pilot and Shastri's retelling at a nationally followed spiritual event. This comes amid recurring public discourse around faith, courage, and national identity. Notably, the involvement of an Indian pilot in averting a mid-air crisis on an international route has added a strong patriotic dimension to the narrative. The story has moved quickly beyond aviation circles into mainstream cultural conversation.
As more details emerge from the investigation into the incident, Captain Machchhar's account is likely to remain at the centre of both official inquiries and public discussion.
Point of View
Amplified by one of India's most-followed spiritual figures and validated by a Prime Ministerial video call. That convergence of faith, nationalism, and individual heroism is a potent combination in the current media environment. What the story does less clearly is separate the verified facts of the cockpit incident — still under investigation — from the spiritual framing layered onto it. As the official inquiry proceeds, the gap between what is confirmed and what has become legend will be worth watching closely.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot who reportedly fought off an attacker — identified as the co-pilot — inside the cockpit of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight, saving more than 100 passengers on board. He subsequently spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a video call, recounting the incident and his reliance on the Hanuman Chalisa during the crisis.
What did Dhirendra Shastri say about Captain Machchhar?
Dhirendra Shastri, known as Bageshwar Maharaj, said at a spiritual gathering on 4 October that Captain Machchhar's faith in Lord Hanuman and his recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa gave him the confidence to confront the crisis and save the passengers. Shastri also quoted directly from Machchhar's video call with Prime Minister Modi.
What happened on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flydubai flight?
According to accounts relayed by Captain Machchhar and retold by Dhirendra Shastri, the co-pilot of the flight attacked inside the cockpit while the aircraft was carrying more than 100 passengers. Captain Machchhar, despite being wounded and reportedly close to collapsing, fought back and regained control of the aircraft.
What did Captain Machchhar tell PM Modi?
In an emotional video call on Friday, Captain Machchhar told Prime Minister Modi that he had nearly collapsed during the fight but pushed himself to open the cockpit door, chanting the Hanuman Chalisa as he always does in difficult situations. He was reported to have been in tears while recounting the ordeal.
Why has this story attracted national attention in India?
The account combines elements of individual heroism, religious faith, and a Prime Ministerial acknowledgement — a combination that has driven wide coverage and social sharing. Spiritual leader Dhirendra Shastri's retelling at a major gathering has further broadened its reach, making it a touchstone in ongoing public conversations about courage and devotion.
