Terrorist or whack job? Trump hails Indian pilot
On Wednesday, an Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, faced an attempted mid-air attack while flying flydubai flight FZ1073. The incident occurred when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot in an attempt to crash the plane. Speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump described the attacker as "perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job," while acknowledging Captain Machchhar as a hero.
The pilot's bravery was further highlighted when passengers, including an Israeli plumber with minimal flying experience, intervened to subdue the attacker, pulling him from the cockpit. The aircraft managed to land safely in Saudi Arabia after the passengers took control. The motive behind the attack is currently under investigation, but the heroism displayed by Captain Machchhar and the passengers has garnered admiration from both Indian and Israeli diplomatic missions, as well as the global aviation community.
Israeli and Indian officials have hailed the pilot as a hero, praising his unwavering courage and determination to ensure everyone's safety.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
