Capt Smit Machchhar recounts cockpit fightback, Hanuman Chalisa prayer to PM Modi
Synopsis
An Indian pilot, wounds fresh, told Prime Minister Modi on a video call that only two things kept him going mid-air: the Hanuman Chalisa and the knowledge that 170 passengers would die if he did not get up. Captain Smit Machchhar's account of the cockpit fightback on the flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight is equal parts human endurance story and a rare window into split-second life-or-death decision-making at altitude.
Key Takeaways
Captain Smit Machchhar spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video call on 2 October 2026 , recounting his cockpit fightback.
Machchhar said he kept chanting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting off the attacking co-pilot aboard the flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
The captain said the resolve to save 170 passengers drove him to push through the cockpit door despite his injuries.
Captain Machchhar has 17 years of flying experience and has been a Captain for 11 years .
PM Modi saluted the captain's parents — Geeta Ben and Bhupendra Bhai — and thanked authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE for his medical care.
Machchhar described speaking to the Prime Minister as 'a very proud moment,' saying he never imagined the opportunity would come.
Captain Smit Machchhar, the wounded Indian pilot who fought off an attacking co-pilot aboard a flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, on Friday, 2 October 2026, spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a video call and recounted his mid-air ordeal — revealing that he kept chanting the Hanuman Chalisa throughout his desperate fightback inside the cockpit.
The visibly emotional captain, speaking from his place of recovery, briefed the Prime Minister in detail about the fatal attack and said he nearly succumbed before sheer resolve to save the lives of 170 passengers on board kept him going.
What Captain Machchhar Told PM Modi
'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, with tears flowing down his cheeks.
The captain described his chanting not as a momentary act but a lifelong practice — adding that he takes his two-year-old son in his lap every day and recites the Hanuman Chalisa to him. 'We are far from our motherland but can't be far from our culture and civilisation,' he said.
A Veteran Pilot's Sense of Duty
Captain Machchhar told Prime Minister Modi that he has been flying for 17 years and has held the rank of Captain for 11 years. He said his understanding of the responsibility he carries — that passengers' safety remains paramount in all circumstances — is what ultimately drove him to act despite his injuries.
The captain said the thought that he could not allow 170 passengers to perish was what pushed him to force his way back through the cockpit door and regain control of the aircraft.
PM Modi's Response
Prime Minister Modi comforted the tearful pilot, telling him that if he could not get emotional in front of him, where else could he. Modi also saluted Captain Machchhar's parents — Geeta Ben and Bhupendra Bhai — for raising their son with high moral values.
The Prime Minister thanked the authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the medical care and supervision extended to the captain, and assured Machchhar that he was just a phone call away.
Captain Machchhar's Reaction
An emotional Captain Machchhar described the conversation as a very proud moment for him, saying he never thought he would get an opportunity to speak with the Prime Minister. He also informed Modi about the medical care he was receiving and expressed gratitude for the outreach.
Notably, the video call puts a deeply human face to what is being widely described as an act of extraordinary airborne courage — a sole pilot, wounded, pushing through pain and prayer to prevent a mass tragedy at 35,000 feet.
Point of View
But the aviation safety audit that must follow this incident is equally important. India's diaspora pilots operating on Gulf-linked carriers operate in an under-scrutinised regulatory grey zone, and this incident should prompt a hard conversation about threat protocols at altitude.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot who fought off an attacking co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, reportedly saving 170 passengers. He has 17 years of flying experience and has served as a Captain for 11 years.
What did Captain Machchhar tell PM Modi?
Captain Machchhar told Prime Minister Modi over a video call on 2 October 2026 that he kept chanting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting off the attacker and that the thought of 170 passengers dying kept him going. He recounted pushing himself to open the cockpit door despite his wounds.
Why did Captain Machchhar chant the Hanuman Chalisa?
Captain Machchhar said he chants the Hanuman Chalisa whenever confronted with difficult circumstances, describing it as a lifelong practice. He also said he recites it daily to his two-year-old son, reflecting his attachment to Indian culture despite living abroad.
How did PM Modi respond to Captain Machchhar's account?
Prime Minister Modi comforted the emotional pilot and told him he could be open with him. Modi also saluted the captain's parents for raising him with high moral values and thanked Saudi Arabian and UAE authorities for his medical care, assuring Machchhar he was just a phone call away.
What is the significance of this video call?
The video call underscored both the human drama of the mid-air incident and PM Modi's personal outreach to Indian nationals involved in crises abroad. For Captain Machchhar, speaking to the Prime Minister was, in his own words, 'a very proud moment' he never anticipated.
