You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 9 hours ago • loading... • Updated 4 hours ago
FlyDubai Flight Passenger Details Treating Wounded Pilot After Tying up Suspect
On Wednesday, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar saved flydubai Flight FZ1073 from a mid-air emergency after allegedly being attacked by his co-pilot, forcing an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Transmitting emergency codes 7700 and 7500, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 174 passengers experienced sharp altitude loss as the co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, prompting passengers and crew to help secure the cockpit.
Despite suffering stab wounds, Machchhar demonstrated "real courage" by reaching across to the co-pilot's side to open the cockpit door, SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh said, explaining the handle's location made the act exceptionally difficult.
Machchhar remains in stable condition at a hospital in Tabuk, receiving praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and President Donald Trump for saving more than 170 passengers.
Noting Machchhar's more than 13 years of commercial flying experience, Singh hailed his "great patience, acumen and bravery," describing his actions as an embodiment of values held dear at SpiceJet.