Bandi Sanjay Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Flydubai Pilot Captain Smit Machchhar

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday slammed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for not acknowledging the bravery of Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who thwarted an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to seize control of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight last week.

In a post on social media platform X, the minister questioned why the Congress leader had not commended the pilot, asking whether acknowledging the courage of an Indian hero was being complicated by international appeasement politics. He asserted that the captain had demonstrated courage deserving of praise from every Indian citizen.

Bandi Sanjay further remarked that those unable to appreciate the pilot's actions fell into the category of "dimagi Naxals and anti-nationals," borrowing terms used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to describe critics.

Captain Smit Machchhar prevented the Flydubai aircraft from crashing after the co-pilot allegedly attempted to take control during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot was overpowered by passengers who entered the cockpit after Machchhar raised an alarm, and two Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers subsequently assisted in landing the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

The comments followed similar remarks by Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, who previously targeted Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi for failing to commend Machchhar. Kishan Reddy noted that the pilot had risked his life to avert an incident comparable to the September 11 attacks.

Kishan Reddy had questioned the Sonia Gandhi family's silence regarding achievements and bravery displayed by Indians on the global stage. He accused the Congress leadership of ignoring significant developments while focusing on minor issues, arguing that this attitude would contribute to the party's eventual political decline.