PM Modi Praises Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar After Flydubai Hijack Attempt
PM Modi praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for helping prevent an apparent hijacking attempt on a flydubai flight and highlighted the wider reputation of Indian pilots.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s conversation with Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who helped prevent an apparent hijacking attempt on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, has drawn attention to the wider perception of Indian pilots.
Speaking to Machchhar, who is recovering in the UAE, Modi said that had the incident ended differently, Indian pilots could have faced serious scrutiny and questions over their competence. He praised Machchhar for protecting the passengers and said India could proudly say that its people are willing to risk their lives to save others.
Machchhar reportedly fought off the Omani co-pilot after being attacked inside the cockpit. Despite suffering multiple injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker. The flight was carrying more than 170 people.
During the conversation, Machchhar told Modi that he was reciting the Hanuman Chalisa while fighting back and knew he had to act despite his injuries.
The incident also triggered a wave of social media speculation about whether the Indian captain could have been blamed had the aircraft crashed. Some posts linked the discussion to the ongoing debate surrounding the 2025 Air India AI171 crash, whose final investigation report is awaited.
The comparison has reignited conversations around pilot accountability, aviation safety and how quickly social media can turn a disaster into a blame game. Basically, the internet had already started writing the verdict before the cockpit story was even fully understood.
