Indian Captain Smit Machchhar has recounted his struggle to regain control of a Flydubai aircraft after his co-pilot launched a violent attack during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Speaking via video link with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar described the harrowing moments when he was injured on the cabin floor yet still managed to open the cockpit door to allow passengers to assist in stopping the aircraft’s rapid descent.
“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Machchhar said. “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.”
The incident occurred two hours into the journey on Wednesday, when the plane dropped more than 17,000ft (5,200m). Passengers and crew eventually overpowered the attacker, enabling the crew to safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Modi praised the captain, stating that his “courage, patience and quick decision-making saved the lives of so many people” and affirming that the entire nation was proud of him. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed Machchhar as a “true hero.”
Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. The Indian embassy in the UAE confirmed on Thursday that the captain is in stable condition and recovering well. Ambassador Deepak Mittal expressed pride in Machchhar’s bravery and relief upon meeting him.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar remained optimistic about his prognosis. “I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,” he said. “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.”
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have indicated that the attacker was driven by “Islamist radical indoctrination” and clearly intended to crash the plane.
So proud our Captain did this! The way he stayed calm and fought back shows true leadership under pressure.
Is it really just ‘indoctrination’? What was the attacker’s motive exactly? Needs more explanation.
I had no idea this happened mid-air. The detail about him being injured on the floor yet still pushing to open the door is chilling.
What an incredible display of bravery. Captain Machchhar truly saved everyone on board against all odds.