Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has recounted how he opened the cockpit door of an Israel-bound Flydubai flight while being attacked by his co-pilot, allowing passengers to enter and help stop the aircraft from rapidly losing altitude.
Machchhar shared the account during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the incident, which forced the flight to divert to Saudi Arabia.
The captain said he was on the cockpit floor and still being attacked when he realised the aircraft was descending rapidly.
“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Machchhar told Modi.
He said passengers subsequently entered the cockpit and helped bring the situation under control.
“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he said.
Machchhar was reportedly attacked by another pilot on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, leaving him injured while the aircraft was in the air. The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia. He was later airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
Modi praised the captain during their conversation, saying his courage, composure and quick decision-making helped save the lives of passengers on board.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described Machchhar as a “true hero” following the incident.
The Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates said on Thursday that Machchhar was in good health and recovering well. Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal said he was proud of the pilot’s bravery and expressed relief after meeting him.
