A flydubai captain, Smit Machchhar, speaks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after allegedly stopping a co-pilot’s attack on an Israel-bound flight. Machchhar says he fought back inside the cockpit and recounted the incident during a video call.
Multiple outlets report that Machchhar tells Modi he chanted the Hanuman Chalisa to help him stay composed and find courage while dealing with the emergency. NDTV and others describe his account as explaining what supported his decision and mindset during the confrontation. Modi is reported to have praised his actions and highlighted his efforts to protect passengers.
The stories also note that Machchhar is recovering in a hospital in the UAE at the time of the discussion, and that Modi speaks not only to him but also to his family, according to reports. Outlets broadly agree on the core details—what Machchhar relays to Modi, his recitation during the cockpit ordeal, and Modi’s commendation—while focusing on different aspects such as the framing of courage, the attacker’s alleged motives, and the captain’s recovery status.
