‘Delighted PM Modi Took Time To Speak To My Husband’: Smit Machchhar’s Wife Sonal | Exclusive

Sonal Machchhar, wife of Captain Smit Machchhar, said the family is “immensely proud” of the Indian pilot after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him as he recovers from injuries sustained in the flydubai cockpit attack.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Sonal said the family was delighted that the Prime Minister had personally reached out to Smit.

“We are very delighted that PM Modi has taken out time to speak to Smit. We are immensely proud of Smit, of what he has done,” she said.

Prime Minister Modi spoke to Captain Machchhar on Friday as the pilot recovers at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. During the conversation, Smit recounted how he managed to open the cockpit door despite being seriously injured during the attack, allowing those outside

to intervene.

Captain Machchhar was piloting flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when he was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, who then tried to crash the aircraft. The plane, carrying 174 people, plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before Smit managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew then overpowered the co-pilot, while two other flydubai pilots on board took control and landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

‘He Is Doing Well’

Asked about her husband’s recovery, Sonal said, “He is doing well.”

The family, however, has so far avoided asking Smit to recount what happened inside the cockpit, with Sonal saying they do not want him to relive the ordeal while he is recovering.

“No, we haven’t asked him anything. Because right now, we don’t want him to get flashbacks of the incident. We want him to recover fully, and I’m sure once he is in the right space to talk, he will share with everyone how the incident went on with him,” she said.

Sonal said she had met her husband on Thursday and was reassured after seeing him and the medical care he was receiving.

Recalling the moment she first learnt about the attack, she said, “I was very devastated. And I didn’t have the mental capacity of how should I react. But as I had my friends and family around me, I was reassured that everything was okay.”

“And very soon, I started getting news that he is stable. And I met him yesterday, and that gives me reassurance that he is in the right hands—under the good care of UAE doctors, military doctors. And I’m just hoping that he comes back home soon, and I’m going to do everything it takes for his recovery.”

‘PM Modi’s Call Means Everything’

Prime Minister Modi had also spoken to Smit’s family following the incident and assured them of support.

Asked what the Prime Minister personally reaching out to the family meant to her, Sonal said, “It means everything. It means everything. Which PM of which country would do this for a normal citizen? So I’m very thankful to PM Modi for calling us.”

PM Modi has publicly praised Smit’s actions, saying his courage helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy. Addressing the UPSC centenary celebrations on Thursday, the Prime Minister said 140 crore Indians were praying for the pilot’s well-being.

‘The Whole Nation Is Praying For Smit’

Sonal also thanked people across India for the messages and prayers the family has received since the incident.

“To the Indians, I’m extremely thankful for all the prayers. I have been following news; I am getting so many messages that people are praying, the whole nation is praying for Smit’s recovery. I’m overwhelmed. I really have no right words for how to thank everyone. I’m speechless,” she said.

“But I’m just so grateful to God that he’s been saved, and everyone on the plane is saved.”

Smit’s actions have also drawn praise in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the Indian pilot as a “true hero”.

Asked about Netanyahu’s interest in speaking to Smit, Sonal said her husband should be the one to speak to the Israeli Prime Minister once he is ready.

“I will not be able to talk to Mr Netanyahu. I think Smit is the right person; he should answer to Mr Netanyahu. And he will definitely talk to him once he is in the right frame of mind,” she said.