{"id":31419,"date":"2026-10-02T07:18:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T07:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=31419"},"modified":"2026-10-02T07:18:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T07:18:50","slug":"i-was-reciting-hanuman-chalisa-flydubai-hero-captain-smit-machchhar-tells-pm-modi-about-cockpit-ordeal-india-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=31419","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I was reciting Hanuman Chalisa&#8217;: flydubai &#8216;hero&#8217; Captain Smit Machchhar tells PM Modi about cockpit ordeal | India News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134633920,imgsize-1197409,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg\" alt=\"'I was reciting Hanuman Chalisa': flydubai 'hero' Captain Smit Machchhar tells PM Modi about cockpit ordeal\" title=\"PM said the entire country is praying for Captain Smit Machchhar.\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"PM said the entire country is praying for Captain Smit Machchhar.\">PM said the entire country is praying for Captain Smit Machchhar.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke via video call with flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped foil his co-pilot&#8217;s alleged attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight, and praised his courage, presence of mind and composure.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>During the conversation, Smit told the Prime Minister that whenever he faces difficulty, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa. He said he was reciting it during the tense moments aboard the flydubai flight as well.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>Captain Smit became emotional during the call and said it was a very special moment for him to speak with PM Modi. He also told the Prime Minister that Modi was his &#8220;biggest idol&#8221;.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>PM Modi told Smit that the entire country was praying for him and praised his courage and resolve to protect the lives of those onboard.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>The Prime Minister said the country could proudly say that Indians are not those who take lives, but those who are willing to risk their own lives to save others.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/middle-east\/new-video-shows-panic-chaos-on-flydubai-plane-how-passengers-rushed-to-cockpit-during-hijack-attempt\/articleshow\/134631835.cms\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8216;Is there doctor here? Do we have an extra pilot?&#8217; New video shows passengers rushing to flydubai cockpit during hijack<\/a><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>PM Modi also spoke about Smit\u2019s mother, Geeta Ben, and said she had raised him with the values and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>Smit said receiving the Prime Minister&#8217;s call made him extremely proud and that he had never imagined he would get an opportunity to speak with him.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>PM Modi had earlier lauded Machchhar&#8217;s courage and unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the him and said he had helped thwart a \u201c9\/11-like\u201d disaster.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>PM Modi also spoke to Machchhar&#8217;s wife and parents and praised his bravery.<\/p>\n<div data-type=\"in_view\" class=\"  \">\n<div class=\"LEzX4\">\n<div class=\"PmOGb\">\n<p class=\"PSf84\">Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Insightful<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Agree<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Disagree<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Skeptical<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Concerning<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Promising<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Worth Reading<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Big Development<\/button><\/p>\n<p><textarea class=\"T9MbS\" rows=\"1\" placeholder=\"Add your Thoughts...\"\/><button type=\"button\" class=\"ZW6JD \" disabled=\"\">Post Comment<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"swnca\">Be respectful \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatimes.com\/termsandcondition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"gkv0P\">TOI community guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, transmitted emergency signals on Wednesday and rapidly lost altitude before diverting to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. <!-- -->The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>Videos circulating on social media showed Machchhar drenched in blood, wearing an oxygen mask and lying on his back in the aircraft galley.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>According to Netanyahu&#8217;s account, an Israeli passenger told him that the aircraft began descending sharply before the passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit. They then helped overpower the co-pilot, who was accused of stabbing Machchhar and attempting to sabotage the aircraft\u2019s systems.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>The UAE has launched an investigation into the incident, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/i-was-reciting-hanuman-chalisa-flydubai-hero-captain-smit-machchhar-tells-pm-modi-about-cockpit-ordeal\/articleshow\/134633718.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PM said the entire country is praying for Captain Smit Machchhar. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke via video call with flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped foil his co-pilot&#8217;s alleged attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight, and praised his courage, presence of mind and composure.During the conversation, Smit told the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"PM said the entire country is praying for Captain Smit Machchhar. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke via video call with flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped foil his co-pilot&#8217;s alleged attempt to crash an Israel-bound flight, and praised his courage, presence of mind and composure.During the conversation, Smit told the [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/captain-smit-machchhar.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31419\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}