The Indian pilot who was attacked by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv has recounted how he managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers to intervene and help bring the situation under control.
Capt Smit Machchhar said he was lying on the cockpit floor while being attacked when he realised that the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude and that immediate action was necessary to prevent a tragedy.
“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 in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“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.
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which departed Dubai for Tel Aviv early Wednesday. About two and a half hours into the journey, the aircraft plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m).
The flight initially transmitted an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before its transponder was changed to squawk code 7500, an international signal indicating a hijacking.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently said one pilot had stabbed the other and had apparently attempted to crash the aircraft.
Passengers eventually overpowered the attacker, allowing two reserve pilots who were travelling on the flight to take control and land the plane safely at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia at 06:58 local time.
Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred by air ambulance to Abu Dhabi. He was later reported to be in stable condition.
Netanyahu described Machchhar as a “true hero” and told Fox News that the attacker was an Omani national. He also said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”.
According to Netanyahu, the attacker was restrained and tied up by passengers and crew after being overpowered and subsequently shouted, “kill me, kill me”, which he said indicated that the man was suicidal.
The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation into “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose”, according to the country’s state news agency.
Machchhar has received widespread praise in India following the emergence of details about his role in helping to prevent a possible disaster.
During his conversation with Modi, the pilot said he had been flying aircraft for 17 years and “can tell what is happening to the plane even with my eyes closed”.
Modi praised Machchhar’s response, telling him that “his courage, patience and quick decision-making saved the lives of so many people” and that the country was proud of him.
The Indian embassy in the UAE said on Thursday that Machchhar was “in good health and recovering well”. India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, also said he was “proud of Capt Smit for his bravery” and “very reassured” after meeting him.
Despite the injuries he sustained, Machchhar said he was maintaining a positive outlook about his recovery.
“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.”
(BBC)
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