'I could not let all those people die': Hero flydubai pilot speaks after attack
DUBAI: An Indian pilot attacked by his co-pilot aboard a flight from the UAE to Israel said Friday that he “could not let all those people die“, in his first public remarks after he helped stop the plane from crashing.
A brave Indian pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv took control of the aircraft after it was attacked by his co-pilot, averting a potential disaster. Captain Smit Machchhar, who'd suffered severe injuries, managed to open the cockpit door and enable passengers and crew to take charge, leading to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The incident, described as a terrorist act by the UAE's presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, resulted in the replacement of the original flight with a new one carrying the mostly Israeli passengers back to Israel. Machchhar, with 17 years of aviation experience, claimed he had collapsed but managed to recite a Hindu devotional prayer to Hanuman while wounded, expressing his belief in divine intervention.
The UAE's civil aviation authority commended the pilot and crew for their swift and decisive actions, which helped contain the situation and prevent more serious consequences. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump praised Machchhar's efforts, with Trump warning Iran if found responsible for the attack.
The incident prompted Flydubai to suspend flights to and from Israel, leaving some Israelis stranded in the UAE. A subsequent Israeli flight, operated by Arkia, was eventually allowed to depart, and El Al stated it would arrange replacement flights for Israelis stranded in the UAE.
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