# Hanuman Ansh actor Shobhinaw Satyaa hails pilot Smit Machchhar's courage and faith

Published 2026-10-11T08:05:35Z

> Hanuman Ansh actor Shobhinaw Satyaa praised flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar. The pilot said the Hanuman Chalisa gave him strength after his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit, and Satyaa said the pilot's words made believers' faith even stronger.

Hanuman Ansh actor Shobhinaw Satyaa has praised flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar. The pilot says reciting the Hanuman Chalisa gave him the strength to act after he was attacked inside his own cockpit.

"Incidents like these remind us that heroes still exist," the actor said at an event. He added that stories of bravery often make people feel such heroes belonged only to the past.

For Shobhinaw, the prayer mattered most. "The bigger thing was that he also made us realise the power of the Hanuman Chalisa," he said. He said he had thanked the pilot many times for speaking about it openly. "He made our faith, which was already so strong, even more unshakeable."

Machchhar spoke about his faith on a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed. "Lord Hanuman gave me courage," he told the Prime Minister.

The attack took place on an Israel-bound flight carrying 174 passengers. His co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly attacked him in the cockpit, and the plane started losing height fast. Badly hurt and lying on the floor, Machchhar pushed himself to open the cockpit door. The flight was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely.

Last week the Ministry of External Affairs said Machchhar is in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. It said he is recovering after an operation and responding well.

## Related titles
- [Hanuman Ansh](https://clapnumber.com/movies/hanuman-ansh)

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Source: https://clapnumber.com/news/hanuman-ansh-actor-shobhinaw-satyaa-hails-pilot-smit-machchhars-courage-and-faith
Retrieved: 2026-10-11