Captain Smit Machchhar has spoken about the moments he fought for the lives of more than 170 passengers on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, revealing his determination to prevent a disaster. During a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the pilot explained how he sustained injuries after being stabbed by his co-pilot but refused to give up, eventually managing to open the cockpit door from the inside to allow assistance. Indian social media has been awash with praise for Machchhar since his identity emerged.
The incident occurred two and a half hours into the journey on Wednesday morning when flight FZ1073 began to descend rapidly, dropping more than 17,000ft (5,200m). The aircraft sent an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before switching to the code 7500, which specifically denotes a hijacking in progress.
Recalling the assault, the pilot stated he was injured and lying on the floor but realized the plane was losing altitude, leaving him no choice but to act. “I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” he said, noting that other individuals helped stabilize the situation. Having served as a pilot for 17 years, he added that his experience allowed him to instinctively understand the aircraft’s critical state. 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 added. He told Modi he had been flying planes for 17 years and “can tell what is happening to the plane even with my eyes closed”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that one pilot had attacked the other in an attempt to crash the flight. Following the assault, passengers subdued the attacker, who was tied up and reportedly shouted, “kill me, kill me.” Netanyahu characterized the suspect as an Omani national and suggested the actions were motivated by “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
Once the attacker was incapacitated, two reserve pilots onboard took control and safely landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia at 06:58 local time. Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he remains in stable condition.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have confirmed they are investigating whether the incident involved any terrorist activity. Meanwhile, the Indian government has formally recognized Machchhar’s bravery, with the prime minister praising his quick decision-making and patience.
Deepak Mittal, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, expressed his pride in the captain after meeting him, noting that he is recovering well. Reflecting on his recovery, Machchhar said, “I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult.” He remains optimistic, describing his healing process as a journey toward full health. I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.
