I opened cockpit door of plane while being attacked, says pilot of Dubai-Israel flight
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has said he opened the cockpit door of the Israel-bound Flydubai plane to allow passengers to come in and halt its rapid descent. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Capt Machchhar said he was on the ground and still being attacked by his co-pilot when he realised [...] The post I opened cockpit door of plane while being attacked, says pilot of…
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar recounted his harrowing experience on a Dubai-Israel flight, detailing how he opened the cockpit door when the plane plummeted, allowing passengers to regain control. Machchhar, speaking in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said he was attacked by the co-pilot while lying on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
He opened the door himself, fighting for his life, but knew he had to act to save others. The plane had been forced to divert due to the attack, plummeting more than 17,000 feet before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar's courage and quick decision-making, describing him as a "true hero."
Capt Machchhar was initially hospitalized in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and later transferred to Abu Dhabi, where he is in stable condition. The Indian embassy in the UAE confirmed he is recovering well and expressing a positive outlook on his recovery.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
