Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a live video interaction with brave Indian pilot Smit Mathar, who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Abu Dhabi, inquiring about his health and recovery. Citizens across the nation watched the visual exchange with immense pride as details of his life-saving courage emerged. During the conversation, Modi also interacted with him in Gujarati. Smit Mathar shared that he routinely recites the Hanuman Chalisa in moments of grave peril. On that fateful morning, even while staring death in the face and covered in blood inside the cockpit, he kept reciting the sacred verses to maintain his focus and resilience.
Prime Minister Praises Family Values and the Teachings of the Gita
During the interaction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recounted his earlier conversation with the pilot's family members, including his father Bhupendrabhai, mother Gitaben, and wife Sonaliben. Modi recounted telling Gitaben that her name itself embodies the Gita, and that she had not merely taught her son the philosophical lessons of Lord Krishna from the scripture, but had deeply ingrained its enduring values into his character and actions. Modi observed that Smit had accomplished such a monumental deed that citizens at home and admirers worldwide are eager to see him and speak with him. He emphasized that this extraordinary valor was made possible because of the foundational ethics of the Gita instilled in him, noting that his heroism has elevated the prestige of the entire country and earned him boundless public affection.
Donald Trump Hails Captain Smit as a Global Superhero
Global leaders have also lauded the pilot's quick thinking. US President Donald Trump stated that had Captain Smit not displayed prompt presence of mind and unlocked the cockpit door, a catastrophic terrorist incident would have unfolded mid-air. Trump described Captain Smit as a superhero for the entire world. The bravery being celebrated internationally saved a Flydubai passenger aircraft from a fatal crash. Even while profusely bleeding and under violent assault, he stood firm against the terrorist co-pilot and successfully protected the lives of all 174 passengers on board.
A Narrow Escape From a Catastrophic Tragedy
Had Captain Smit Mathar not acted with decisive courage, the world might have witnessed another catastrophic tragedy reminiscent of the 9/11 attacks, plunging the global aviation community into deep mourning. Instead, people across the world are saluting the Indian aviator's indomitable spirit. As the altercation unfolded, the plane began plummeting rapidly with its primary pilot grievously wounded, placing the aircraft just seconds away from slamming into the ground. At that critical juncture, an Israeli passenger named Yaniv, a plumber by trade, mustered the courage to rush inside the cockpit. The nose of the aircraft was tilted sharply downward, and an impact with the ground appeared imminent.
Ingenuity of a Passenger and a Crucial Technique from a Docuseries
Acting swiftly, Yaniv shoved the rogue co-pilot away from the flight deck controls to neutralize the immediate threat. He then took hold of the flight controller and pulled it backward to lift the aircraft. He had no formal aviation training and was not certain his intervention would work, but he recalled watching an investigative docuseries on aviation accidents that explained how to pull an aircraft out of a steep dive. He mirrored the technique he had seen on screen, and the move proved effective. The descent halted, the nose began pointing upward, and the flight gradually stabilized in mid-air.
Passenger Pilots Step in for a Safe Saudi Arabia Landing
Shortly after the dive was arrested, two off-duty pilots travelling as ordinary passengers rushed into the cockpit to provide assistance. However, confronting the sight of blood splattered across the cockpit proved overwhelming, causing one spare pilot to faint on the spot. The second off-duty pilot maintained composure, assumed control of the aircraft, established emergency communication with the nearest Air Traffic Control facility, and guided the plane to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia, successfully averting what could have been a devastating disaster.
Six Miracles That Kept 174 Passengers Safe
The survival of the 174 individuals aboard the Flydubai flight has been described as an extraordinary chain of miraculous events. The first remarkable feat occurred when the grievously injured Captain Smit managed to transmit the emergency transponder code, an operation requiring deliberate technical inputs rather than the simple press of a single button. The second critical moment came when the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, without which external intervention would have been impossible and a crash inevitable. The third miracle was the rapid situational awareness displayed by intervening passengers, who instantly distinguished between the attacker and the defender inside a chaotic flight deck. The fourth turn of fortune was the plumber successfully pulling the control stick to level the plunging jet. The fifth crucial intervention came from a dentist on board who immediately administered vital first aid to the injured captain. Finally, the sixth miracle unfolded when an off-duty pilot, despite not being intimately familiar with that specific aircraft variant, maintained total calm and executed a flawless emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Aviation veterans note that such an alignment of fortunate circumstances is virtually unprecedented and reflects extraordinary dedication to duty, significantly enhancing the global reputation of Indian professionals.
