Stories
Captain Smit's Heroism Gives India a Major Diplomatic Opening
- •Captain Smit Machchhar saved 174 lives onboard a hijacked flight in an act of extraordinary mid-air bravery.
- •His heroism has pierced through Western duplicity and global bias regarding state-sponsored terror.
- •The incident averted what could have been a catastrophic loss of life and severe diplomatic setbacks for India.
- •India can leverage this unprecedented worldwide goodwill and awakening in the West to advance its geopolitical interests.
Key Questions Answered
Despite being stabbed with a crash axe, bleeding heavily, and losing consciousness during an attack by his co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, Captain Smit used his remaining strength to reach the cockpit door switch and unlock it. This allowed the crew and passengers inside to rush in, overpower the rogue co-pilot, and safely land the aircraft.
Captain Smit's heroism generated massive global goodwill and prompted the US Senate—which had previously passed a bill empowering President Trump to impose heavy tariffs on India—to pass a resolution praising his extraordinary bravery, offering India a strategic opening to improve diplomatic ties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Captain Smit on social media and in interviews with CNN, comparing the averted tragedy to a 9-day disaster and hailing the Indian pilot as a true hero who prevented a catastrophic mid-air crash.
