InternationalSaturday, 3 October 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
PM Modi speaks to pilot Smit Machchar after FlyDubai hijack attempt; praises his courage
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video call with Indian pilot Smit Machchar in Abu Dhabi and praised his role in preventing a major disaster.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In October 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by video call with Indian pilot Smit Machchar, who was receiving treatment in an Abu Dhabi hospital after stopping a FlyDubai hijack attempt.
Key specifics
- Modi told Smit Machchar that the entire nation was proud of him.
- The conversation lasted about 10 minutes.
- Smit Machchar said he had been flying for 17 years and serving as a captain for 11 years.
- He said the cockpit attack left him badly injured, but he still opened the door to save passengers.
- Modi said Machchar’s parents, Geetaben and Bhupendra Machchar, had raised him with Bhagavad Gita values and good conduct.
Exam lens
Question type: International affairs and personalities MCQ; key facts: Abu Dhabi, FlyDubai hijack attempt, 10-minute video call, 17 years flying, 11 years as captain, Geetaben and Bhupendra Machchar. TNPSC one-liner: Which Indian pilot was praised by the Prime Minister after foiling a hijack attempt in Abu Dhabi?