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PM Modi, during a call with the pilot, said India could proudly say that its people are not those who take lives, but those who are willing to risk their own lives to save others
A screenshot of the conversation between PM Modi and Captain Smit Machchhar.
When Captain Smit Machchhar found himself fighting for his life inside the cockpit of a Flydubai aircraft, he turned to a prayer he has recited whenever he has faced difficult moments—the Hanuman Chalisa.
On Friday, the injured Indian pilot told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he was reciting the Hanuman Chalisa during the terrifying mid-air attack in which he was seriously injured by his co-pilot.
Machchhar shared the detail during a video call with PM Modi, who praised his courage, presence of mind and composure during the crisis and told him that the entire country was praying for his recovery.
The conversation also turned deeply personal. At one point, Machchhar became emotional and told the prime minister that speaking to him was a “very special moment” and that PM Modi was his “biggest idol”. Machchhar also said he had never imagined that he would get an opportunity to speak with the prime minister.
PM Modi, in turn, spoke about Machchhar’s mother, Geeta Ben, and said she had raised him with the values and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
The prime minister also told Machchhar that India could proudly say that its people are not those who take lives, but those who are willing to risk their own lives to save others.
‘I Recite Hanuman Chalisa When I Am In Difficulty’
Machchhar told PM Modi that whenever he finds himself in difficulty, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa. He said he was doing the same during the most difficult moments of the Flydubai incident.
The disclosure adds a personal dimension to the account of what happened inside the cockpit, where Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot while the aircraft was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to respond to the attack and help enable the cockpit door to be opened, allowing cabin crew and passengers to intervene.
The aircraft, Flydubai Flight FZ1073, eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 174 people aboard survived.
Modi Praises Smit’s ‘Courage, Presence Of Mind’
During the video call, PM Modi praised Machchhar for his courage, presence of mind and composure during the incident. The prime minister told him that the country was praying for him and wished him a speedy recovery.
For Machchhar, however, the call itself appeared to be an emotional moment. He told PM Modi that receiving the call had made him extremely proud and that he had never imagined that he would get the opportunity to speak with him.
PM Modi also brought Machchhar’s mother into the conversation, referring to her as Geeta Ben, and saying the values and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita with which she had raised her son had helped shape the person he had become.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Injured Indian pilot Smit Machchhar spoke with PM Modi via video call, sharing that he was reciting the Hanuman Chalisa during the mid-air attack by his co-pilot and expressing that speaking to his biggest idol was a very special moment.
Ask News18About the Author
Apoorva Misra is an Associate Editor at News18.com with a keen interest in politics and current affairs. She loves uncovering fresh angles and telling stories through long-form features and explainers…Read More
October 02, 2026, 12:14 IST
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