Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by the co-pilot during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, and praised his courage during the mid-air crisis.
The remark referred to the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, when hijacked aircraft were used to strike targets, killing nearly 3,000 people. This allowed passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker. A plumber then allegedly took control of the aircraft as it was nose-diving and other pilots on the plane then diverted it to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia , where it made an emergency landing. President Droupadi Murmu also praised the pilot, saying the nation was proud of him and that his courage and presence of mind had touched people across the country.
India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited him and his family at the hospital and said the pilot was “in good health and recovering well”. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar is said to have managed to unlock the cockpit door. Speaking at an event marking the centenary of the Union Public Service Commission in New Delhi, Modi said Machchhar’s actions had helped avert what he described as a “9/11-style tragedy”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likewise praised Machchhar, describing the incident as an “amazing act of heroism” and saying the actions of the Indian pilot and others on board had helped prevent a potentially major disaster.
Machchhar, who was seriously wounded during the attack on Wednesday, has since been shifted from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates for further treatment. On Thursday, Modi said Machchhar displayed remarkable patience, presence of mind and courage during the emergency.
