Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot injured during the Flydubai FZ1073 cockpit attack, spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi and gave his first detailed account of what happened inside the aircraft.
Machchhar had been seriously injured after being attacked by his co-pilot during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar received emergency treatment before later being moved to the UAE for continued care. By the time of his conversation with Modi, he was recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital.
The video released by the Prime Minister’s Office showed Machchhar with bandages on his head and hands and a tube in his nose. During the nearly 10-minute conversation, he described how he was badly wounded, fell to the floor and still managed to open the cockpit door.
“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” Machchhar told Modi.
He said he was fighting for his life when he realised that the aircraft was continuing to descend.
“I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realised that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives,” he said.
The aircraft had plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident. Machchhar said he knew something had to be done even though he was already seriously injured.
“I knew that the aircraft was going down … I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it and people entered,” he said.
Opening the cockpit door changed what was happening inside the aircraft. Passengers and crew were able to enter the cockpit and restrain the attacking co-pilot. Two other Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the flight then helped take control of the aircraft, which was diverted and safely landed in Tabuk.
Machchhar also gave credit to the people who came into the cockpit and helped during the emergency. He said their role was equally important in bringing the situation under control.
During the conversation, he spoke about what helped him remain calm while he was injured. Machchhar said he recited the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal.
“Whenever I am in pain, I recite Hanuman Chalisa. At that time also, I was reciting Hanuman Chalisa, and I know that God saved me,” he said.
He also told Modi that he prays every morning and has a two-year-old son who sits in his lap while he recites the prayer. He said the family remains connected to its traditions even while living away from India.
The conversation also became personal when Modi spoke about Machchhar’s family. The Prime Minister had earlier spoken with his parents and wife and praised the values with which he was raised. Modi specifically mentioned his mother, Geeta, making a reference to the Bhagavad Gita while speaking about her role in his upbringing.
Machchhar became emotional during the conversation and told Modi, “You are my biggest idol. I never thought I would speak to you.”
Modi responded by praising his courage and presence of mind during the emergency. He said people across India and around the world wanted to speak to him and that his actions had brought pride to the country.
Machchhar also expressed gratitude to the Saudi and UAE authorities for the medical treatment and assistance he received after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.
The pilot’s account gave a firsthand picture of what happened after the attack: he was badly injured and had fallen down, but he knew that the aircraft was descending and that passengers could lose their lives if he did not get up.
He eventually managed to reach the cockpit door and open it, allowing others to enter and help stop the attack. The nearly 10-minute conversation with Modi gave the public the first detailed account from Machchhar himself of those moments inside the cockpit.
