Letter.

 Letter Published in The National UAE on 9Oct 26

Truly a hero

Ramola Talwar Badam’s article headlined ‘Don’t sleep please, we need you,’ dentist told flydubai pilot as he battled to save him (October 6) was both moving and meaningful. It describes how the pilot Smit Machchhar battled for 45 minutes after the attack as Dr Shota Musaev laboured to keep him alive. The doctor’s determination and the pilot’s courage during those critical moments have been beautifully analysed and presented in the article. The words “Don’t sleep, please. We need you”, uttered by the dentist to the injured pilot, reflects not only the urgency of the situation but also the hope that the captain would survive. The pilot is truly a hero. He fought bravely to save the lives of 174 passengers, even while being targeted in an alleged terrorist attack. His courage, presence of mind and determination helped protect the passengers and bring them to safety. “We need you” is indeed the right message for such a brave pilot. His courage reminds us that behind every safe journey there are individuals who may risk their own lives to protect others. – K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India