I wasn't going to let others die, says Indian pilot who opened cockpit door during attack
The captain opened the cockpit door despite his injuries, and passengers restrained the attacker after the Boeing 737 dropped more than 17,000 feet, officials said.
- Captain Smit Machchhar revealed in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he unlocked the cockpit door from the floor while under attack, stating, "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 Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight plunged over 17,000 feet after Machchhar was assaulted by his co-pilot two hours into the journey from Dubai, forcing an emergency diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Passengers and off-duty crew members entered the flight deck after Machchhar unlocked the door during his final effort, successfully overpowering the assailant and regaining control of the aircraft.
- Both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar’s bravery and quick decision-making under fire for preventing a major disaster and saving everyone on board.
- Following the safe emergency landing in northwestern Saudi Arabia, Machchhar was transported to a hospital in Tabuk to receive medical treatment for injuries sustained during the struggle.
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Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv almost ended in a crash: the second pilot attacked the captain with a knife; it was estimated that he was about to crash the plane. 174 passengers were on board, most of whom were Israeli citizens. They were able to disarm the assailant and safely land the plane. But they were only able to intervene because of the wounded Captain Smith Machchar, who opened the door from the inside.
Smit Machchhar told from the hospital how he managed to open the door while the plane was losing altitude. “I couldn’t let all those people die,” he said.
Co-pilot stabbed on Flydubai flight describes moment he opened cockpit
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar recounted the moments he fought to escape the cockpit after being stabbed, in his first public comments since the attempted hijacking on the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. “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 during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The attack occurred Wednesday, roughly two hours in…
‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
NEW DELHI (AP) — The Indian airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight described Friday how he fought for...
Smit Machchhar recounts from the hospital how he found strength while the plane was falling and a video shows the chaos that was experienced
The Indian captain Smit Machchhar, attacked with a knife by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight from the Emirates to Israel, said he had made a final effort to prevent the aircraft from flying...
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