Smit Machchhar, the flydubai captain, thrust his hand into a cockpit that had become a battlefield when an armed co‑pilot stabbed him and threatened the crew. He pressed the door latch, opened the cockpit, and let passengers flood in to subdue the assailant, preventing a catastrophic crash and saving 170 lives.
During a phone call, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the incident a “heroic act” and said that Machchhar’s recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa “gave him the fortitude” to stay calm under fire. The leader praised the captain’s self‑lessness, noting that Machchhar had “put others ahead of himself” even as he was wounded.
Machchhar is now recuperating in a hospital in the UAE, where he received medical care and the support of the Indian embassy. He told PM Modi he prays every morning with his two‑year‑old son, keeping the family’s traditions alive amid the ordeal.
The authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into the co‑pilot’s motives and the security lapse that allowed the attack. A formal investigation will determine whether the co‑pilot faces charges and whether flydubai’s safety protocols will be revised.