‘One last push’: Captain Smit tells PM Modi how he reached cockpit door despite injuries

Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped avert a major tragedy after being attacked by his co-pilot aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that despite suffering severe injuries, he made “one last push” to reach the cockpit door as he could not let the passengers die.

 

Speaking to PM Modi over the phone on Friday, Captain Machchhar recalled the moments after he collapsed on the floor following the attack and said his 17 years of flying experience helped him realise that the aircraft was going down.

 

“When I was down on the floor, I sensed that the aircraft was going down. And I knew for sure: ‘This is the one last push, Smit. Just do it. The door is right there.’ Even as blows were still landing on me, I just managed to open it, sir. Then everyone else arrived. The others also played an equal role in this,” Machchhar told the Prime Minister.

 

The Captain said that while he was consciously telling himself that he was acting for his own survival, he knew that he could not allow the passengers to die.

 

“Consciously, I was telling everyone that I was acting for my own survival, but at the same time, I knew deep down that I could not let all of them die,” he said.

 

Machchhar also told PM Modi that he had been flying aircraft for 17 years and had served as a captain for the last 11 years.

 

“I have been flying planes in aviation for 17 years. I have been a captain for the last 11 years. Even with my eyes closed, I know exactly what is happening with the aircraft,” he said.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar’s courage, patience and presence of mind, saying his actions had made the entire country proud.

 

“Your courage, your patience, and your presence of mind. You made crucial decisions in fractions of a second and saved so many lives. Today, the entire nation can proudly say that we Indians are not people who take lives—we are people who save lives,” PM Modi said.

 

The Prime Minister also assured Machchhar that he could reach out to him whenever required.

 

“Smit, whenever you need me, I am just a phone call away,” PM Modi said.

 

He also told the Captain that India was waiting to welcome him back and that people across the country were praying for his recovery.

 

Machchhar, who is recovering from his injuries at a hospital in the UAE, also spoke about how he kept himself calm during the ordeal by reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.

 

“Whenever I feel afraid, only one thing comes to mind: I recite the Hanuman Chalisa. Even during that ordeal, I was continuously reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. I know that God’s grace was with me,” he said.

 

He later told PM Modi that he regularly recites the Hanuman Chalisa with his two-year-old son and said his family had ensured that they remained connected with their culture while living away from India.

 

During the conversation, Machchhar became emotional and said, “I never thought I’d be talking to you right now.”

 

Responding to him, PM Modi said, “If you aren’t emotional in front of me, then where will you be?”

 

Machchhar also expressed confidence about his recovery.

 

“I am thinking of it as a journey that will happen slowly. And it will take time, but I am very, very confident that I will recover. And I will be completely healthy,” he said.

 

PM Modi also expressed gratitude to the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for the assistance provided to Machchhar following the incident.

 

Earlier, PM Modi had praised Machchhar for his “patience, presence of mind, and courage”, saying his actions had helped prevent a major tragedy.

 

The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Machchhar was injured after being attacked by his co-pilot but managed to reach the cockpit door and helped ensure the safe landing of the aircraft.

 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced the ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for Machchhar, praising his courage and presence of mind during the incident.

 

Special prayers and religious rituals have also been held at temples across the country for Machchhar’s speedy recovery.

 

-ANI