flydubai pilot 'a hero', plumber steadied plunging aircraft: Trump
The pilot who staved off the attempt to crash the aircraft has been identified as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and hailed a "hero" by Netanyahu and many others.
US President Donald Trump described the flydubai pilot who thwarted a knife attack as a hero, while also praising an untrained plumber passenger who steadied the aircraft. Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident, which occurred on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. The pilot, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, opened the cockpit door and called for help after the co-pilot stabbed him.
Trump stated the pilot was in a very bad condition but had the presence of mind to open the door and scream for assistance. Meanwhile, a plumber passenger, who had never flown an aircraft, entered the cockpit, removed the co-pilot from his seat, and threw him back, where others restrained him. Trump noted this plumber had reportedly gained some basic flying knowledge from watching the television show "Air Disasters."
Additional pilots and security personnel eventually took control of the aircraft, which landed in Saudi Arabia. Trump emphasized that he was sharing an account he had received from Netanyahu and other sources, not confirming the details himself.
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