India
Indian pilot recounts cockpit attack to PM Modi
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar described his ordeal during a flydubai flight to PM Modi, emphasizing his efforts to save passengers despite being stabbed by his co-pilot.
At a glance
Why it matters
The incident highlights the critical role of pilots in ensuring passenger safety during emergencies and underscores the importance of quick, decisive action in crisis situations.
Key facts
- Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the cockpit attack, with passengers helping to subdue the attacker.
- Machchhar described his efforts to open the cockpit door despite severe injuries, allowing passengers to intervene.
- Prime Minister Modi praised Machchhar’s courage and called him a global hero, emphasizing the values of 'ahimsa' and selflessness.
- Machchhar is recovering from his injuries and remains confident in his full recovery.
What happens next
Machchhar is expected to recover fully and return to India, with continued support from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot who survived a violent cockpit attack on a flydubai flight, recounted the incident to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi. Machchhar described how he fought to open the cockpit door despite being stabbed and bleeding on the floor, allowing passengers to intervene and steer the plane to safety. The flight, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the incident.
Machchhar said he was conscious of the aircraft’s descent even after collapsing from his injuries. 'I could feel the flight going down,' he told Modi, adding that his years of flying experience told him the plane was in danger. 'I was fighting for my life, but I was determined not to let others die,' he said. The pilot emphasized that his actions were driven by a sense of duty to save the lives of the 174 passengers on board.
Modi praised Machchhar’s courage, calling him a global hero and highlighting the importance of his actions in preventing a potential disaster. 'You have boosted the prestige of 140 crore Indians,' Modi said, adding that the incident demonstrated the values of 'ahimsa' (non-violence) and selflessness. The Prime Minister also thanked the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their care during Machchhar’s recovery.
Machchhar described how he recited the Hanuman Chalisa to stay calm during the crisis, a practice he continued with his two-year-old son. He also acknowledged the role of passengers who rushed into the cockpit to help restrain the attacker. 'The others also played an equal role in this,' he said, emphasizing that the crisis was a collective effort.
Machchhar, who is recovering from his injuries, expressed confidence in his full recovery. 'I am thinking of it as a journey that will happen slowly, but I am very, very confident that I will recover,' he told Modi. The pilot’s account comes as he continues to recuperate, with Modi expressing gratitude for the support provided by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.