Indian pride swells as flydubai pilot who saved 174 lives hailed as ‘absolute hero’
An Indian pilot’s extraordinary bravery during an apparent mid-air hijack attempt has ignited a wave of national pride, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing the pilot as a hero for saving 174 lives on a flydubai plane – adding a dramatic chapter to a career that began almost by chance. Captain Smit Machchhar was critically injured after taking the brunt of a knife attack on Wednesday, but…
A pilot from India, Captain Smit Machchhar, has become an overnight hero after performing a brave act during a potential mid-air hijack on a flydubai flight. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where Machchhar's co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife and attempted to crash the aircraft. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing the crew and passengers to overpower the attacker and prevent a catastrophe.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, praised Machchhar's heroism on social media, describing him as an "absolute hero" who saved 174 lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also commended the pilot's "extraordinary bravery." Social media users in India hailed Machchhar as a hero, with some even suggesting he could star in a Bollywood film as the leading man.
The incident occurred during a routine flight, and it is unclear what motivated the attacker. The airline, flydubai, has suspended flights between its hub in the UAE and Israel while the investigation continues.
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Also reported by 4 other outlets
- Global leaders, diplomats to passengers: How Indian pilot Smit Machchhar became a hero for the world hindustantimes.com
- ‘Delay is not my problem, as long as…’: Hero pilot Capt Smit Machchhar's eerie foresight months before flydubai stabbing livemint.com
- Indian airline captain hailed as ‘hero’ after cockpit stabbing on Flydubai flight winnipegfreepress.com
- ‘A hero’: Trump on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar after mid-air cockpit attack indianexpress.com
