The Indian captain of a Flydubai flight has recounted how he fought to save the lives of more than 170 passengers after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him and attempted to take control of the aircraft during a flight to Tel Aviv.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, spoke about the incident during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, October 2.
Machchhar said he was badly injured and lying on the cockpit floor when he realised that the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude. Despite his injuries, he managed to make one final effort to open the cockpit door so that passengers could come to his aid.
“I was fighting for my life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” Machchhar said during the conversation with Modi.
The incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. The aircraft reportedly plunged more than 16,000 feet in less than a minute during the incident before the situation was brought under control.
After Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, passengers entered and helped restrain the co-pilot. A passenger with aviation experience temporarily helped stabilise the aircraft before two off-duty pilots on board took control. The plane was subsequently diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The United Arab Emirates Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, said on Saturday that the co-pilot had used a crash axe to attack the captain and had attempted to seize control of the aircraft as part of what authorities described as a terrorist operation. He said investigations were continuing to establish the suspect’s motives, connections and other circumstances surrounding the incident.
Machchhar, who has been a pilot for 17 years and a captain for 11 years, was seriously injured during the attack but remained conscious enough to recognise the danger facing the aircraft. He also told Modi that he drew strength from his faith during the ordeal.
The pilot has since received messages of support from Indian and Israeli leaders, while authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel continue investigations into the incident.
