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Indian Pilot Hailed as Hero After FlyDubai Cockpit Stabbing
Confirmed
In Short: The incident occurred aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar in the cockpit.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was hailed as a hero after he was stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Machchhar, an experienced commercial pilot, sustained serious injuries during the confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and assist in overpowering the alleged attacker.
The co-pilot, an Omani national, has been identified by Israeli officials and remains under investigation. He is suspected of attempting suicide by deliberately putting the Boeing 737 into a dangerous descent.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and appeared to be suicidal. Netanyahu said there were restrictions involving pilots from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, but the co-pilot had nevertheless been able to pass through the relevant process.
The incident has raised questions over how the Omani pilot cleared the vetting process. An aviation expert noted that an Omani pilot working for a UAE airline is not inherently unusual and that nationality does not normally determine where the airline can operate.
Israeli dentist Musaev Shota, who was aboard the aircraft, said he helped restrain the alleged attacker before treating the wounded captain and stopping his bleeding.
The aircraft was able to land safely in Saudi Arabia thanks to the quick actions of Machchhar and the assistance of other pilots and crew members on board.
PM Narendra Modi praised Machchhar's bravery and said, “Yesterday, an incident took place in which Indian Captain Smit displayed remarkable presence of mind and courage, as the Prime Minister of Israel said that an Indian saved us from another 9/11.”
What's confirmed
- Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was hailed as a hero after he was stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
- Machchhar, an experienced commercial pilot, sustained serious injuries during the confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and assist in overpowering the alleged attacker.
- The co-pilot, an Omani national, has been identified by Israeli officials and remains under investigation. He is suspected of attempting suicide by deliberately putting the Boeing 737 into a dangerous descent.
- According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and appeared to be suicidal. Netanyahu said there were restrictions involving pilots from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, but the co-pilot had nevertheless been able to pass through the relevant process.
- The incident has raised questions over how the Omani pilot cleared the vetting process. An aviation expert noted that an Omani pilot working for a UAE airline is not inherently unusual and that nationality does not normally determine where the airline can operate.
- Israeli dentist Musaev Shota, who was aboard the aircraft, said he helped restrain the alleged attacker before treating the wounded captain and stopping his bleeding.
- The aircraft was able to land safely in Saudi Arabia thanks to the quick actions of Machchhar and the assistance of other pilots and crew members on board.
What's still developing
- The colleague told Israel’s Channel 16 that the co-pilot had joined flydubai about eight months ago and that he “prayed a lot” and would not shake hands with women.
- “He prayed excessively throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women,” the pilot told Channel 16, according to Israeli media reports.
- “We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu told Fox News, saying the assessment was based on information gathered about the co-pilot’s personal background.
- The aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar in the cockpit.
- The co-pilot, whose act of apparently trying to crash the flight, has been described by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz as “a jihadist terrorist attack”.
- The colleague described the Omani pilot as someone whose religious practices appeared unusual compared with those of other employees.
- First images from inside the FlyDubai plane during the pilots' fight – screams can be heard, the aircraft is shaking, and passengers are in a panic, praying.
- A terrifying midair emergency unfolded aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv after a violent struggle erupted inside the cockpit.
- He also told “Fox & Friends” he would be able to say within a matter of days whether the flydubai co-pilot had connections to Iran.
- Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and said, “Yesterday, an incident took place in which Indian Captain Smit displayed remarkable presence of mind and courage, as the Prime Minister of Israel said that an Indian saved us from another 9/11. Smit’s bravery fills every Indian with pride. Today, I also spoke to his father, Bhupendra Bhai, his mother, Geeta Behen, and his wife, Sonal Behen. He is currently undergoing treatment. The entire world is proud of him today. I appeal to all citizens to pray for Smit’s long life and good health, and to honour Smit, who has made India proud,” he said as he attended the UPSC centenary celebration at Bharat Mandapam.
- The Israeli PM, in a separate post on X, lauded Captain Machchhar for his bravery and said that he prevented a ” catastrophic mid-air disaster”.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered a probe into the flydubai FZ1073 incident, in which the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in an apparent attempt to crash the plane, the state news agency reported.