Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has recounted a harrowing experience aboard an Israel-bound Flydubai flight, where he opened the cockpit door to allow passengers to enter and help halt the plane's rapid descent. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Capt Machchhar described the moment he realized the aircraft was sinking and knew he had to act.
“"I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside," he said.
He added, "Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die."
Incident Overview
Capt Machchhar was attacked by another pilot on the flight bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai, which forced the aircraft to divert to Saudi Arabia. The plane plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) two hours into its journey on Wednesday. Passengers and crew managed to overpower the attacker and regain control, landing safely.
