- Capt. Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, causing the plane to plunge nearly 14,000 ft in less than 30 seconds.
- While on the floor, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and let a second pair of flydubai pilots take control and land the jet in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- On Friday, Machchhar, recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, spoke to PM Modi in a video call, recounting the attack and his desperate effort to open the cockpit door.
- PM Modi praised Machchhar's bravery, stating that his presence of mind saved lives and the reputation of Indian pilots.
- Machchhar described the moment of the attack, stating, "I knew that the aircraft was going down ... I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it and people entered."
- An emotional Machchhar recounted, "I know God saved me," and mentioned reciting a Hindu prayer to the monkey god Hanuman during the ordeal.
Capt. Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who thwarted a potential disaster on a FlyDubai flight, described his terrifying ordeal during a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was stabbed by his co-pilot, leading the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 ft in under 30 seconds.12
"I knew that the aircraft was going down ... I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it and people entered," Machchhar recounted, emphasizing his determination to save the 174 passengers on board.7
Machchhar, who has been a pilot for 17 years and a captain for 11 years, was recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital when he spoke to Modi, wiping away tears as he shared his experience. He recited a Hindu prayer to the monkey god Hanuman during the attack, believing that “God saved me”.5
His quick thinking allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, enabling a second pair of FlyDubai pilots to regain control and land the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Modi praised Machchhar's bravery, stating that his actions not only saved lives but also upheld the reputation of Indian pilots.346
The incident has drawn significant attention, highlighting the risks pilots face and the importance of their training in crisis situations.
“The co-pilot's stabbing caused the jet to plunge nearly 14,000 ft in under 30 seconds, but Machchhar's opening of the door let passengers and crew overpower the attacker, allowing a second pair of pilots to land the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar, from Modi's home state of Gujarat, said he recited a prayer to Hanuman during the ordeal.”
