Captain Pilot Smit Machchhar Declared Hero After Preventing Attack on Aircraft
The captain pilot, who was stabbed by his colleague on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, prevented a disaster by opening the cockpit door despite being severely injured.
On a passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Captain Pilot Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by another pilot, prevented the aircraft from crashing thanks to his immense courage despite severe injuries, and ensured it landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Stabbing Attack on the Plane and Intervention
On a 174-passenger capacity flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, one pilot attacked his colleague with a knife. According to officials, the attacker attempted to crash the aircraft nose-first.
Severely injured and covered in blood, Captain Pilot Smit Machchhar opened the cockpit door, enabling the passengers and Emirati crew to neutralize the attacker. The aircraft was subsequently landed safely at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
Praise and Support Messages from Leaders
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in a remark after speaking with Machchhar's family that the pilot's courage serves as an example to the world and averted a major disaster.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described Machchhar as a true hero, while India's Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal met with the pilot's family to convey a message of full support.
Health Condition of the Experienced Pilot
Smit Machchhar, who was hospitalized in the city of Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, was reported by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to be in stable condition as of Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in an interview with Fox News that the captain pilot was very seriously injured.
Aviation Background and Career
Born in Mumbai, Smit Machchhar had served for many years at the India-based low-cost airline SpiceJet before joining Flydubai.
The experienced captain pilot, who has approximately 10,000 flight hours, was piloting the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft at the time of the incident.