Indian Pilot Who Survived FlyDubai Cockpit Attack Recounts Ordeal
Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who was attacked in the cockpit during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight and saved the lives of those on board, shared the difficult moments he experienced during a video call from the hospital.
Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in a cockpit attack on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv and prevented a disaster with his courage, spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Video Call Held at the Hospital
Captain pilot Smit Machchhar, who is receiving treatment at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, held a televised video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Machchhar told Prime Minister Modi that he knew he had to get up to save his passengers and fought with that thought in mind.
The Struggle at the Critical Moment
Stating that he fell to the ground after being injured, the pilot expressed that even during the moments when he was losing consciousness, he tried to get up to save the passengers' lives.
Realizing that the aircraft was losing altitude rapidly, Machchhar said he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and neutralize the attacker.
Flight and Emergency Landing Details
The Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 182 passengers, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia due to the attack and emergency.
FlyDubai stated that the aircraft was landed safely by the on-duty crew, while regional authorities explained that this crew consisted of trainee pilots.
Attacker's Status and Investigation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker, an Omani citizen, was detained and interrogated in Saudi Arabia.
Authorities shared the information that the motivation behind the attack has not yet been clarified.
17 Years of Flight Experience
Machchhar, a 17-year pilot from Mumbai who has been serving as a captain for the last 11 years, emphasized that he could sense the aircraft's condition even with his eyes closed.
The experienced pilot stated that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a traditional Hindu hymn, to find strength and courage during those difficult moments.
Past Career and Training Process
According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar is married and a father of two, and has been working with FlyDubai for about four years.
The pilot, who previously worked for 11 years as a senior commander and line training captain at India-based airline SpiceJet, logged over 9,750 hours of flight time during this process.
A Situation Not Found in Training Manuals
Philip Kean, CEO of Mainland Air flight school in New Zealand where Machchhar trained, stated that pilots are taught what to do in the event that a crew member is incapacitated.
However, Kean stated that there is no preparation in the manuals against a knife attack that could be staged by a colleague.