"Extraordinarily Brave": All the Praises for the Pilot Who Saved the Flydubai Flight

Flydubai captain Smit Machehar is receiving international acclaim after saving 174 passengers during an attack. Dubai's crown prince visited him in the hospital, while in India the ruling BJP party is exploiting his image for a political-religious campaign, distributing posters depicting him as a Hindu hero.

Flydubai captain Smit Machehar is hospitalized with head injuries after being attacked during a flight and managing to save the lives of 174 passengers. Dubai's crown prince, 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 Machehar alongside the Hindu god Hanuman, claiming he recited the "Hanuman Chalisa" prayer during the attack to draw courage. India's permanent delegation to UNESCO is signed on the poster. The Indian Air Force chief, A.P. Singh, also commended the civilian captain's performance and called his actions "extraordinarily brave."