Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has recounted a harrowing experience after being attacked by his co-pilot during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite suffering multiple injuries, Machchhar took decisive action to regain control of the aircraft, prioritizing the safety of the 182 passengers on board.
In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar, who is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi, described how he managed to open the cockpit door after the attack. This allowed passengers to enter and restrain the co-pilot while the Boeing 737 was making a steep descent.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. Machchhar sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation, and the co-pilot, an Omani national, has been detained by Saudi authorities.
Machchhar, a Mumbai-born pilot with four years of experience at flydubai and over a decade at SpiceJet, shared that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu prayer, which provided him with courage during the ordeal. His experience and quick thinking were crucial in averting a potential disaster.