Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was injured during the shocking Flydubai cockpit incident, is stable and recovering, his wife Sonal Machchhar has said. In her first interaction with the media after the incident, Sonal spoke about her husband’s recovery, the emotional situation faced by the family and the overwhelming support coming from people across India and the world.
Sonal also revealed details about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to the family, saying his personal assurance meant a lot to them during an extremely difficult time.
The captain is currently receiving medical care, while the family is avoiding questions about the incident to ensure that he can recover without reliving the traumatic experience.
Smit Machchhar Is Stable and Recovering
Speaking to CNN-News18, Sonal said that Smit is doing well and is receiving treatment from doctors in the UAE, including military medical teams.
She said meeting her husband personally gave her confidence that he was receiving the best possible care.
“He is doing well,” Sonal said.
According to her, the family has deliberately decided not to ask Smit about what happened inside the cockpit.
She explained that they do not want him to experience flashbacks of the frightening incident while he is still recovering.
Sonal said the family will allow him to speak about the incident when he feels mentally and physically ready.
‘We Haven’t Asked Him Anything About the Incident’
Sonal said the family’s priority right now is Smit’s recovery rather than finding out every detail of what happened.
She explained that once he is in the right frame of mind, he can share his experience with everyone.
The decision highlights the emotional impact that such a terrifying incident can have on a person, even after the immediate physical danger has passed.
For the family, the focus is now on ensuring that Smit gets the necessary medical and emotional support before discussing the incident publicly.
Sonal Reveals PM Modi’s Call
One of the most emotional moments for the Machchhar family came when Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted them.
Sonal said that the call from the Prime Minister meant a great deal to the family during such a difficult period.
“It means everything,” she said.
Sonal expressed her gratitude to PM Modi for taking the time to personally speak with the family.
She also said that the Prime Minister’s call provided reassurance at a time when the family was dealing with fear and uncertainty.
PM Modi Spoke to Smit During His Recovery
Prime Minister Modi reportedly spoke with Smit through a video call and praised his courage, presence of mind and composure during the emergency.
The Prime Minister told the injured pilot that the country was praying for his recovery.
The conversation reportedly became emotional, with Smit telling PM Modi that he considers him his “biggest idol.”
Smit also said that he never imagined he would get an opportunity to speak directly with the Prime Minister.
During the conversation, Smit reportedly revealed that he recites the Hanuman Chalisa during difficult moments and that he was doing so during the attack.
PM Modi also spoke with Smit’s parents, Bhupendra and Geeta Ben, and praised the values with which their son was raised.
‘The Whole Nation Is Praying for Smit’
Sonal said she has been closely following the messages and reactions coming from India and Israel.
She expressed her gratitude to everyone who has prayed for Smit’s recovery.
According to Sonal, the number of messages and prayers from ordinary people has been overwhelming for the family.
She said she felt almost speechless while trying to express her gratitude.
“I am overwhelmed. I really have no right words to thank everyone,” she said.
Sonal added that she was extremely grateful that Smit survived the incident and that everyone on the aircraft was safe.
A Terrifying Flight That Ended Safely
Smit Machchhar was the captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a violent incident reportedly took place inside the cockpit.
According to reports, Smit was attacked by his co-pilot and suffered injuries.
During the emergency, the aircraft reportedly lost altitude rapidly. Smit is said to have taken actions that helped alert authorities and eventually allowed the situation to be brought under control.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
All passengers survived the incident.
The exact circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation, including the motive and sequence of events, remain under investigation.
Smit’s Wife Says He Will Speak When He Is Ready
Sonal made it clear that she does not want Smit to discuss the incident before he is ready.
She said that the family wants him to fully recover first.
“We want him to fully recover,” she explained.
This means that many unanswered questions surrounding the incident may remain unanswered until Smit himself feels comfortable speaking about what happened.
For now, his family is concentrating on his health and recovery.
Netanyahu Also Wants to Speak With Smit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed interest in speaking with Smit following the incident. Sonal said she believes Smit is the appropriate person to have that conversation once he has recovered sufficiently.
She indicated that she would not personally speak with Netanyahu on Smit’s behalf, saying that the captain should speak with him himself when he is in the right frame of mind.
That conversation could potentially provide another important perspective on the dramatic events aboard the Flydubai flight.
‘I’m Just Grateful Everyone Was Saved’
For Sonal and the Machchhar family, the past few days have been filled with fear, uncertainty and emotion.
But there is also immense relief. Her husband survived the attack, received medical treatment and is now recovering. Most importantly, the passengers on the aircraft also survived.
As investigations continue into what exactly happened inside the cockpit, Smit Machchhar’s family is asking for one thing above all: time for him to recover. Sonal’s message to the people who have supported the family is one of gratitude.
The prayers from Indians and people around the world, the support from the authorities and the personal call from Prime Minister Modi have given the family strength during an extraordinarily difficult period.
For now, the nation continues to wait for Captain Smit Machchhar to recover fully—and for the day when he is ready to tell his own story.