Indian pilot prevents disaster in cockpit after knife attack
A Flydubai captain was stabbed by his co-pilot in flight, but thanks to his intervention he was able to alert passengers and prevent a crash.
Quick Look
- An Indian Flydubai flight captain was stabbed by his co-pilot on his way to Israel.
- Despite serious wounds, he fought back and opened the cockpit door, thus preventing a catastrophe.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
A Flydubai flight to Israel went into a nosedive after the co-pilot attacked the captain in the cockpit with knives.
The Indian captain who was injured by the co-pilot in the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073 to Tel Aviv is apparently very passionate about his job. Smit Machchhar said in a podcast last year that he felt “blessed” to be able to work as a pilot. In the conversation he also emphasized the importance of flight safety and a capable crew. “If something goes wrong, you need them,” the pilot said in the now-viral video.
For the Indian captain, that moment came on Wednesday. According to previous findings, the co-pilot stabbed him as the flight from Dubai approached Israel in the morning. The plane then went into a nosedive. As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reported, the captain had resisted despite being seriously stabbed. He opened the cockpit door so passengers could subdue the attacker.
In doing so, he prevented a catastrophe in the middle of the air, the head of government wrote. “He is a real hero,” said Netanyahu. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar for his bravery on X on Wednesday. In a speech on Thursday, Modi said the pilot had prevented “an attack like September 11th.” “1.4 billion Indians pay their respects to Captain Smit and pray for his well-being,” Modi said. He had also previously spoken to the pilot's family.
An experienced pilot with around 10,000 flight hours
The seriously injured pilot, whose condition is said to be stable, has placed a “strong focus on safety” in his career, according to his LinkedIn profile. According to the information, he has accumulated a total of 9,740 flying hours in more than 13 years. He specializes in Boeing 737 aircraft. He also has experience in training pilots. According to the profile, he had worked at Indian airline Spicejet for 11 years and moved to Flydubai in the United Arab Emirates in June 2022.
Unlike many professional colleagues, Machchhar explained in the podcast that he did not want to become a pilot as a child. He initially completed a course in textile technology so that he could join the family business. He then received his bachelor's degree in management. He attended a seminar about the aviation industry. At the age of 19 he decided to become a pilot. The father of the family also reported that he ensures a balance between work and private life as well as sufficient rest periods.
He wants to get his passengers to their destination safely
In the podcast, the pilot further reported that he had only experienced minor technical problems and delays in his career. Until then, he had not had to make an emergency landing. As a pilot, he is responsible for ensuring that the passengers can get off the plane safely. “This is what I want,” he said.
Due to his severe injuries, some passengers - including a second crew who were on board - took control of the aircraft and made a safe emergency landing. Videos showed the pilot lying on the ground covered in blood. An Israeli dentist provided first aid.
According to the Indian Embassy, he is being treated at a hospital in the city of Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia. “He is receiving medical attention and is safe,” an Indian government spokesman said on Thursday. At his former home in Ghatkopar, a suburb of Mumbai, people were full of praise. A childhood friend told news agency PTI that Machchhar was a "prudent" person even as a youth. US President Donald Trump said in the White House on Wednesday that the pilot had shown presence of mind despite his “very bad condition”.
