Captain Smit Machchhar Tells PM Narendra Modi What Gave Him Courage During Flydubai Mid-Air Attack
Captain Smit Machchhar spoke with PM Modi after sustaining serious injuries during a flydubai flight incident. The pilot shared his experience and what gave him courage to act during the mid-air emergency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Captain Smit Machchhar on Friday, October 2, after the Indian pilot sustained serious injuries while helping prevent a major mid-air disaster aboard a flydubai flight. During the phone call, Machchhar shared his experience of the incident and told the Prime Minister what gave him courage during the attack.
PM Modi praised Machchhar's bravery and wished him a speedy recovery. The Prime Minister had earlier spoken with the pilot's wife and parents on Thursday and assured them of support from Indian missions for Machchhar and his family. Flydubai Pilot Captain Smit Machchhar ‘In Good Health and Recovering Well’ in UAE Hospital, Says Indian Envoy.
What PM Modi Said About Captain Smit Machchhar
PM Modi had earlier described Machchhar as a "hero" in a post on X. He praised the pilot for showing courage and determination despite being seriously injured during the incident.
The Prime Minister said Machchhar's actions helped protect the lives of passengers and crew members and helped avert what could have been a major tragedy. Devendra Fadnavis Meets Flydubai Pilot Captain Smit Machchhar’s Family in Mumbai (Video).
What Happened on Flydubai Flight
The incident took place on Wednesday during a mid-air altercation involving Machchhar and the co-pilot. The captain sustained severe injuries during the incident but managed to unlock the cockpit door.
The Boeing 737 was reportedly flying at around 34,000 feet when the aircraft began descending rapidly. At one point, its descent rate reached approximately 23,000 feet per minute, with the aircraft eventually reaching an altitude of around 15,600 feet.
The cockpit door being unlocked allowed crew members and passengers to intervene and helped avert a potentially serious aviation emergency.
Captain Machchhar Speaks to PM Modi
During Friday's conversation, Machchhar spoke about his experience and explained what gave him the courage to act despite suffering serious injuries. The conversation came a day after PM Modi spoke with the pilot's family.
The Prime Minister's interaction with Machchhar followed his public praise for the pilot's actions during the incident. Machchhar is currently recovering from the injuries sustained during the mid-air altercation.
The incident has drawn attention to the actions of the flight crew and the sequence of events that unfolded aboard the flydubai aircraft.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 02, 2026 12:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
