'My son is a hero'

When Manjeet Kohli (70) spoke to her son over the phone yesterday, she broke into tears.

When Manjeet Kohli (70) spoke to her son over the phone yesterday, she broke into tears. "I am so proud of my son, but I burst into tears when I heard his voice," Manjeet told MiD DAY. And she certainly has every reason to feel proud.

presence of mind: A TV grab of AI pilot Capt A S Kohli

Manjeet's son, Air India pilot Captain A S Kohli, averted a major disaster at Mumbai airport yesterday. Incidentally, Kohli's late father was a deputy manager at Indian Airlines. "Had he been alive, he too would have been proud. Our son is hero," addedu00a0 Manjeet.

Kohli, a resident of Delhi kept in touch with his mother after the incident. "I want to go home as soon as possible. I am just waiting for theu00a0 enquiry to be completed," said Kohli. Apneet, Kohli's wife, has been flooded with calls from friends and family since last morning.

"My husband is a pious man and everyone says his faith kept him safe. And my children have been jumping around celebrating their father's 'hero' status," added Apneet.

But Kohli prefers to remain modest. "I just did my job. I don't think it's an act of heroism as everyone is making it out to be." Had it not been for his presence of mind, hundreds would have lost their lives.