"Exceptionally Brave": All the Details of the Pilot Who Saved 174 Passengers on a Flydubai Flight

Captain Smit Chachar, a Flydubai pilot, is hospitalized with head injuries after being attacked during a flight, saving 174 passengers. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, visited him in the hospital. Meanwhile, in India, the ruling BJP party is exploiting his story for a political-religious campaign, distributing posters depicting him as a Hindu hero.

Captain Smit Chachar, a Flydubai pilot, is hospitalized with head injuries after being attacked during a flight, managing to save the lives of 174 passengers. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, visited him in the hospital and praised his courage and responsibility for human life, noting that the pilot is appreciated by the country's leadership. Meanwhile, in India, the pilot's homeland, the ruling BJP party is exploiting his story for a political-religious campaign. Distributed posters show Chachar alongside the Hindu god Hanuman, claiming he recited the "Hanuman Chalisa" prayer during the attack to draw courage. The permanent delegation of India to UNESCO is signed on the poster. The Indian Air Force chief, A.P. Singh, also praised the civilian captain's performance and called his actions "exceptionally brave."