PM Modi Checks on Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and enquired about his health after he was seriously injured during a mid-air attack aboard a flydubai flight. Machchhar was captaining the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight when his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and attempted to crash the aircraft. Despite his serious injuries, Machchhar resisted the attacker and managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling others to intervene and helping avert a major disaster. He is now undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE. During their conversation on October 2, PM Modi heard Machchhar’s account of the ordeal and praised the courage and resolve he displayed while facing grave danger. Modi also wished the Indian pilot a swift and complete recovery. Machchhar’s actions have drawn widespread praise for helping protect the lives of those aboard the aircraft.