Published Oct 02, 2026 | 2:24 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2026 | 2:24 PM
Speaking to PM Modi over a video call on Friday, Machchar said his health was improving.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, October 2, spoke to Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who reportedly averted an alleged hijacking attempt of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.
Machchhar was severely injured after he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, who has been accused of attempting to crash the plane. The incident was initially reported as a brawl between the two pilots. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later claimed that the incident was a hijacking attempt and hailed the Indian pilot as a hero for saving the lives of the passengers.
The incident is being investigated while both the pilots are receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, where the flight landed after being secured and diverted by two other pilots who were on board.
Speaking to PM Modi over a video call on Friday, Machchhar said his health was improving.
When Modi enquired about his condition, Machchhar replied, “Everything is fine, Sir. Everything is fine.”
Recalling the incident, Machchhar said, “As someone who has been flying planes for 17 years and a Captain for the last 11 years, I can tell what is happening in the aircraft even with my eyes closed. As I lay on the floor, I could sense the aircraft going down. I knew with absolute certainty that if I could just give one last push to the door, that was it. Even while taking a beating, I just opened it, Sir.”
“In my mind, I was doing it to save my own life, but at the same time, I knew I couldn’t let everyone else die. After that, people here, in Saudi as well… I couldn’t have received better care or medical attention than this. And Sir, I am just holding onto positivity. Whenever I feel pain, only one thing comes to mind: I just recite the Hanuman Chalisa. Even at that moment, I was only reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. I know God saved me. Now receiving your call makes me feel so proud. Until now, I wasn’t feeling proud of myself, but now I do, Sir. Sorry for crying in front of you, Sir,” he said.
PM Modi hailed the pilot’s timely intervention that reportedly saved the lives of the passengers. He told Machchhar that the people of India are proud of his courage.
“The entire nation is praying for you. Chants of Mahamrityunjaya are going on everywhere. Your courage, your patience, and your presence of mind -making so many decisions in a fraction of a second- saved so many lives. Today, the entire country can proudly say that we Indians are not people who take lives; we are people who save lives. Despite sustaining such a huge injury to your body, while you yourself were fighting a battle between life and death, you didn’t care about your own life,” PM Modi said.
“You cared for the lives of all the passengers. Most importantly, you raised the pride of 140 crore countrymen, and I feel deeply proud from the bottom of my heart,” he added.
PM Modi noted that the conversation was taking place on Gandhi Jayanti and said Machchhar has “lived and demonstrated what non-violence truly means.”
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
