Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:48am on 02 Oct 2026,Friday India
Indian flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa to find courage while confronting his Omani co-pilot during a mid-air attack. Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and overpower the attacker. The Boeing 737 flight, carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. During a video call, Modi praised Machchhar’s courage and presence of mind. The pilot, now recovering in the UAE, thanked Modi and said he believed God had saved him.
