Indian pilot Smith Machaar spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday over a video call. At that time, Prime Minister Modi praised him, saying, “The entire nation is proud of you.” Indian pilot Smith Machaar, who successfully thwarted the “Fly Dubai” hijacking, is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Modi spoke with him yesterday over a video call.
Prime Minister: How are you? How is your health?
Smith: I’m fine.
Prime Minister: The entire nation of India is praying for you. I commend your courage, wisdom, and composure. The wise decision you made in a split second has saved many lives. The Indian people’s determination to save lives at any cost has been reflected in you. The entire nation takes pride in you. Indians do not take anyone’s life. Indians consider saving lives to be their foremost duty.
You have suffered severe injuries all over your body. You were fighting between life and death. At that time, you risked your own life to save the lives of all the passengers. Because of you, the respect and esteem of 1.4 billion Indians have risen. What happened in the cockpit?
Smith: I was thrown off balance and fell to the floor in the brutal attack suddenly carried out by the co-pilot. I suffered severe injuries all over my body and was bleeding. I could not get up. I have been flying aircraft for 17 years. I have been serving as an aircraft captain for about 11 years. Based on this experience, I was able to sense the condition of the aircraft. Even though I had fallen to the floor, I could clearly feel the plane descending straight down.
I sang the Hanuman song
In the difficult times of my life, I used to sing the Hanuman song. At the moment when I was about to die, I sang the Hanuman song. The pilots’ cabin door was near me. I realized that this was my last chance. I was being continuously attacked. Even so, I gathered all my strength and opened the door.
After that, the passengers came in. Everyone has an equal share in preventing a major disaster. I was very determined that none of the passengers on the plane should lose their lives. In that excitement, I opened the door even at the risk of my own life. Ever since my childhood, you have been my role model and leader. I never even imagined that I would speak with you. Now, speaking with you feels very emotional.
Prime Minister: I spoke with your mother, father, and wife. In this difficult time, you have sung the Hanuman hymn and gained courage. Your mother Geetaben and father Bhupendra Machar have taught you the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and raised you with good values. I commend them. Your wife Sonal is courageous. Even in this sorrowful time, she spoke with great mental strength.
If you need any help, don’t hesitate to call me on the phone. I pray that you recover soon. Special prayers are being held for you in temples across India. You should recover soon. We are eagerly awaiting the day you return to India.
The conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pilot Smith lasted about 10 minutes. Smith became emotional and cried while speaking with the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has posted the video of his conversation with Smith on social media. This video is going viral around the world.
Deficiency in Israel’s aviation security procedures
According to a report broadcast by Israel’s “Channel 12” news television, people from countries that do not have diplomatic relations are not permitted to work in Israel. Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations. However, pilots from Oman have been operating flights to Israeli cities.
Now, a co-pilot from Oman has hijacked a “Fly Dubai” aircraft and attempted a major attack on Israel. In the future, a detailed investigation should be conducted into the background of pilots operating flights to Israel. That is what it said.
Flydubai’s negligence
In a statement issued by Israel’s aviation department, it was said: “We had already instructed Flydubai that pilots from countries without diplomatic relations should not be allowed to operate flights to Israeli cities. However, due to the company’s negligence, an attempt to hijack the aircraft took place. We have conveyed our concern to the company regarding this. In the future, pilots’ backgrounds will be thoroughly investigated.”
Passengers alerted by the girl’s screams
The cockpit (pilot cabin) door of a passenger aircraft is made of a fiber called Kevlar. It is five times stronger than steel. The cockpit door is also coated with steel and titanium plating. The cockpit door cannot be opened even by gunfire or grenade attacks.
Flight attendants and staff can enter the cockpit only with the pilots’ permission. The door can be opened only from the inside. It cannot be opened from the outside.
Indian pilot Smith Machar, who had been brutally attacked by the co-pilot from Oman and was lying on the floor, managed with great difficulty to open the cockpit door.
The restroom is located next to the aircraft’s cockpit. Six-year-old Nina, while coming out of the restroom, heard Pilot Smith’s scream and, out of fear, told her father about it. When the little girl screamed, the other passengers became alert. The girl’s father and fellow passengers ran toward the cockpit. Because of this, a major terrorist attack plot was thwarted.