Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has revealed the terrifying moments he endured after being attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying he knew he had to keep fighting because the lives of everyone on board were at risk.
Machchhar, who sustained serious injuries during the incident, gave the account while speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call released on Friday.
The captain said he was lying on the cockpit floor while the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude when he realised he had to make one final effort to reach the cockpit door.
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“When I was lying on the floor, I could feel that the aircraft was plunging,” Machchhar told Modi. “I said to myself, ‘This is the last push, Smit, do it. The door is right there.’”
Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and intervene.
“Somehow, I opened the door, and everyone came in and everyone else had an equal role in the rescue,” he said.
The incident occurred on Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, September 30, while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
According to Reuters, the aircraft descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after the attack. Machchhar was seriously injured but managed to unlock the cockpit, giving passengers and crew an opportunity to intervene.
Two other Flydubai pilots who were among the passengers subsequently helped regain control of the aircraft. The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
The aircraft was carrying 174 people, according to Reuters. No passengers were killed in the incident.
Machchhar said his training and years of experience as a pilot helped him understand what was happening even while he was badly injured.
“Even if I shut my eyes, I can tell what is happening inside a plane,” he said.
Captain Recovers in Abu Dhabi
Following the emergency landing, Machchhar initially received medical treatment in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further care.
During his conversation with Modi, the captain assured the Indian leader that he was recovering.
“I am fine and everything is all right,” he said.
Modi praised Machchhar for his courage and composure during the crisis, saying his quick decision-making helped protect the lives of those aboard the aircraft. The Indian Prime Minister’s Office subsequently published the transcript of their conversation.
“You took a decision in a fraction of a second and saved the lives of so many people,” Modi told him.
Machchhar responded by telling Modi that he regarded him as his “biggest idol” and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to speak with him.
The captain’s account provides the clearest picture yet of what happened inside the cockpit during the frightening episode.
Investigations into the attack and the circumstances surrounding the co-pilot’s actions remain ongoing. Authorities have not established a definitive motive publicly, and officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed.
Source: ABC News
Culled by ED Mike
