BJP criticizes Congress over silence on pilot Smit Machchhar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the Indian National Congress for its perceived silence regarding the heroism of Captain Smit Machchhar. Machchhar, a flydubai pilot, sustained serious injuries after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him in the cockpit of flight FZ1073, an incident that involved over 170 passengers. Despite his injuries, Machchhar is credited with helping to avert a major disaster before the aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the Congress leadership, specifically mentioning Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, of failing to issue statements or social media posts in support of the pilot. Trivedi characterized this as a reflection of differing mindsets, suggesting the opposition prioritizes ‘vote-bank politics’ over national pride.

In response, Congress MP Imran Masood accused the BJP of attempting to turn the incident into a political ‘event’. While Masood praised Machchhar’s bravery and expressed hope for his recovery, he argued that the BJP frequently politicizes significant occurrences.