First footage of Captain Smit Machchhar. He has heavy bandages on his chest and stomach after fighting off the attacker, but the courage and determination on his face are still unmistakable.
Just watch Sundar Pichai’s conduct when Trump speaks. He lowers his gaze, listening with respect. Then he folds his hands in a namaste-like gesture. However powerful the position, some values of grace, humility and respect remain deeply Indian.
My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.
I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery.
He is a true hero.
Had this man not found the courage to fight back after being repeatedly attacked with an axe capable of cutting through metal—while bleeding profusely—and had the presence mind to trigger the hijack/emergency code, initiate the emergency response and open the cockpit door to allow passengers to assist him, the aircraft’s subsequent dive could have had catastrophic consequences.
Had that aircraft not been recovered, the geopolitical consequences for the Middle East could have been profound and potentially irreversible.
Sometimes history turns on the courage, resilience and presence of mind of one person.
Yes. One Indian man.
“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.”
BG 2.47