Actor Shobhinaw Satyaa has praised Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar for speaking publicly about how his faith helped him during a life-threatening mid-flight incident, saying the pilot’s account has strengthened the belief of devotees.
Machchhar was seriously injured after his Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked him in the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite being stabbed, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and help restrain the suspect. The aircraft, which had gone into a steep descent, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The captain’s account of the ordeal came during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed. Machchhar said reciting the Hanuman Chalisa had given him the courage to act when he feared for his life and the safety of those on board.
‘Heroes still exist’, says Shobhinaw Satyaa
Speaking to India Today, Satyaa, who features in *Hanuman Ansh*, said incidents such as Machchhar’s reminded people that acts of extraordinary bravery were not confined to stories from the past.
“We have grown up listening to stories of bravery. But those stories often made us feel that such things happened a long time ago, that there were people like that in the past. Incidents like these remind us that heroes still exist,” the actor said.
Satyaa also highlighted the significance of Machchhar openly discussing his religious faith and the role it played during the emergency. He said the pilot’s experience had deepened the faith of people who already believed in the Hanuman Chalisa.
“The bigger thing was that he also made us realise the power of the Hanuman Chalisa. When that man recited the Hanuman Chalisa there, he touched upon something that is a matter of faith for us. I thanked him a lot for bringing this out in the open. He made our faith, which was already so strong, even more unshakeable,” Satyaa said.
‘Lord Hanuman gave me courage’, captain tells PM Modi
During his conversation with the Prime Minister, Machchhar described the pressure he faced as the aircraft began descending and explained why he felt compelled to act despite his injuries.
“I was fighting for my life. I realised at that time that if I won't show courage, then 170 passengers will lose their lives,” he told Modi.
The captain also spoke about turning to the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal. “Lord Hanuman gave me courage,” he said, attributing his strength in those critical moments to his faith.
How the cockpit attack unfolded
Machchhar’s Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit while the aircraft was operating a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft subsequently went into a steep descent.
Recounting the incident to Modi, Machchhar said he realised the aircraft was going down while he was lying injured on the floor. He then focused on reaching the cockpit door and opening it, despite his condition.
“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 recalled.
Passengers entered the cockpit and helped restrain the alleged attacker. The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, bringing the mid-flight emergency to an end.