In a moment when fear and chaos took over the cockpit, Captain Smit Machchhar held on to something deeply familiar: the Hanuman Chalisa. The Indian flydubai pilot, who was seriously injured after being attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, turned to the prayer as he faced one of the most frightening moments of his life.
Speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call, Machchhar said that he was reciting the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal. He also said that he turns to the prayer whenever he feels afraid or is in pain, and believes that God saved him.
What is the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn devoted to Lord Hanuman and contains 40 verses, known as chaupais. It was composed by poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas.
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In Hindu tradition, Lord Hanuman is associated with qualities such as courage, strength, devotion and service to Lord Rama. He is also known as Sankat Mochan, a name that refers to the remover of difficulties.
Because of this association, devotees often recite the Hanuman Chalisa during challenging or uncertain moments. Traditional beliefs regard the prayer as a means of seeking protection, inner strength and help while facing obstacles.
For many devotees, chanting the Hanuman Chalisa is also an act of remembrance and surrender. Tuesday and Saturday are traditionally associated with Hanuman worship, although the prayer is recited by devotees on other days as well.
‘Whenever I feel afraid, I chant the Hanuman Chalisa’
Machchhar indicated that the prayer has been part of his life well before the flight incident. During his conversation with PM Modi, he said that whenever he feels fear or pain, he recites the Hanuman Chalisa.
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“I have a two-year-old son. He sits in my lap when I pray. I recite Hanuman Chalisa to him because we are away from the country, but not away from our traditions,” he added.
The pilot also recalled pushing himself to get back up after being injured because passengers were relying on him. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene, while the aircraft was diverted for an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The idea of Sankat Mochan is closely connected with this devotional tradition. For devotees, invoking Hanuman during difficult moments can represent a search for protection, courage and strength when circumstances feel beyond their control.
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