Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchar, has recounted how he fought through serious injuries and managed to open the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to overpower his colleague who allegedly attempted to crash a Flydubai aircraft carrying more than 170 people.
Machchar, who was speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, narrated his ordeal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, where he is receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.
With a bandage on his head, the pilot said he realised that he had to act despite being seriously injured because the lives of everyone aboard the aircraft depended on him.
“I feel an immense sense of pride. At that moment, I was fighting for my life, but I realised that if I didn’t get up and act—after being seriously injured and lying on the floor—no one else would,” Machchar said.
He explained that his 17 years of experience as a pilot, including 11 years as a captain, helped him understand what was happening aboard the aircraft even while he was injured.
“I’ve been flying planes for 17 years and have been a captain for the last 11 years, and I know what’s happening on the plane, even with my eyes closed,” he said.
Machchar said he knew that only one final push was required to open the cockpit door after he had been attacked by his Omani colleague.
“I knew that only one more push was needed to open the door. Despite my injuries, I opened it, and the rest of the crew came in and did their part. I knew I couldn’t let the passengers die,” he said.
The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Israel when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchar and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Indian and Israeli leaders have commended Machchar for his actions, with Modi describing his intervention as an extraordinary act of courage.
“Captain Smit Machchar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11-like attack from happening,” Modi said.
“One hundred and forty crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said on Thursday that preliminary investigations indicated that the Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Machchar had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
Netanyahu said investigations were continuing to establish the motive behind the attack, which left the flight at risk of being brought down while carrying about 170 passengers.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over aviation security and the potential threat posed by individuals attempting to seize control of commercial aircraft.
