Flydubai Attack: Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Recounts Cockpit Door Decision
Flydubai Flight Attack: Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Recalls Dramatic Mid-Air Ordeal
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was injured after allegedly being attacked by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, has described the dramatic moments that followed the incident.
Speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call from a hospital in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Machchhar recounted how he struggled to reach and open the cockpit door while the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude.
The pilot, who appeared with bandages on his head and hands and a medical tube in his nose, told Modi that he realised the aircraft was going down and knew he needed to get the cockpit door open to seek assistance.
“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 said.
Flydubai Flight Plunges Nearly 14,000 Feet
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv through Jordanian airspace.
According to the reported account, Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft and crash it. The plane, carrying 174 people, reportedly dropped almost 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds during the incident.
Machchhar said his 17 years of flying experience, including 11 years as a captain, helped him understand the seriousness of the situation.
After being injured and falling to the cockpit floor, he managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew then entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, allowing other Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the aircraft to take control.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
PM Modi Praises Pilot's Actions
During the video call, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for his response during the emergency, saying his presence of mind helped save lives.
Machchhar, who is from Gujarat, became emotional while describing the experience and said he believed he had been saved by God. He also told Modi that he recited a prayer to Lord Hanuman during the ordeal.
The pilot was reportedly covered in blood when he succeeded in opening the cockpit door, according to an Israeli official cited in the reports.
Investigation Underway Into Flydubai Incident
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are investigating the incident. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi ordered an investigation to establish what happened, determine the circumstances and motives, and examine whether the incident had any connection to terrorist activity or prior planning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was too early to establish a motive or determine whether the incident had any connection to Iran. He said Israel could potentially participate in the investigation.
The incident triggered a major security response, with Israel reportedly deploying fighter jets as the aircraft was diverted. Passengers eventually reached Israel safely after the alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft was stopped.
Investigators are now working to establish the circumstances surrounding the Flydubai cockpit attack, including the alleged motive and whether the incident was connected to any wider security or terrorist activity.