A Dubai-based Indian man got lucky twice in one week. First, he survived the crash-landing or an airliner, and then he won a $1 million lottery prize, CNN reports.

Mohammad Basheer Abdul Khadar, 62, was on board Emirates flight EK521 en route from southern India when it skidded on the runway as it landed at Dubai International Airport and burst into flames.

Although the entire top half of the Boeing 777’s fuselage was burned off, only 13 passengers were injured – though a firefighter was killed responding to the emergency last Wednesday.

Khadar’s winning number in the Dubai Duty Free Millenium Millionaire draw was pulled Tuesday at the airport, netting him Dh3.67 million ($1 million).

Khadar, an employee of a car dealership in Dubai, told the Gulf News he’d purchased the ticket last month as he set off on vacation with his family in the south Indian state of Kerala.

He described last week’s escape as a “miracle” and a “precious gift from God.”

“I feel like God gave me a second life when I survived the plane crash, and blessed me with this money to follow all this up by doing good things.” – Mohammad Basheer Abdul Khadar
He said he plans to retire in December and return to his native India to find a job helping others.

WN.com, Jim Berrie

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Photo: WN / Prajkta

Photo: Public domain photo

Photo: WN / Prajkta

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