New Delhi, 01 October (H.S.):

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several leaders from both the ruling and opposition camps, on Thursday praised the exceptional bravery of Captain Smit Machhar and wished him a speedy recovery.

President Murmu said, “The nation is proud of Captain Smit Machhar. His courage and presence of mind in a difficult situation have touched all our hearts. Despite being grievously injured amid grave danger, he remained steadfast in his efforts to save the lives of others. His bravery and prompt action helped avert a major tragedy and save many precious lives. I salute his indomitable courage and wish him a speedy recovery and good health.”

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan said that Captain Smit Machhar’s exceptional courage and presence of mind in the face of grave danger deserve immense respect and appreciation. “India is proud of this extraordinary hero. Despite being critically injured, his determination in the air and the timely decisions he took helped avert a major tragedy and save the lives of those on board. We pray for Captain Machhar’s speedy and complete recovery. May he regain his strength soon,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Captain Smit Machhar is a hero. Despite extremely dangerous circumstances and being seriously injured, he displayed tremendous courage and unwavering determination to save the lives of others. His bravery helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy. “India is proud of Captain Machhar. I pray for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health,” he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Captain Smit Machhar is truly a hero. His presence of mind and courage in an extremely dangerous situation helped save the lives of hundreds of people. His dedication to duty and deep sense of responsibility are truly commendable. “I salute his courage and devotion to duty and wish him a speedy and complete recovery,” he said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the entire country stands with Captain Smit Machhar and is proud of his exceptional courage. By risking his own life, he upheld the highest traditions of duty and service and helped save the lives of everyone on board the aircraft. His courage, composure and sense of duty will always remain a source of inspiration for the nation. “We wish him a speedy and complete recovery,” he said.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar said Captain Smit Machhar’s exceptional courage and ability to display presence of mind even in difficult circumstances helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy the previous day. “Join countless people across the world in saluting his bravery and praying for his speedy recovery,” he said.

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “The world belongs to the courageous. Captain Smit Machhar has shown what true courage means. Despite grave danger and serious injuries, his exceptional presence of mind and unwavering determination enabled him to regain control of the aircraft and save 174 precious lives. His courage in difficult circumstances and dedication to his profession reflect the finest spirit of an Indian pilot. The nation salutes his bravery and prays for his speedy and complete recovery.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Captain Smit demonstrated exceptional courage and presence of mind during the incident and helped save precious lives. He wished Captain Machhar a speedy and complete recovery.

It may be recalled that Captain Machhar has been at the centre of attention since the incident involving a Flydubai aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel, the previous day. Captain Smit Machhar has emerged as a hero following the incident.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar