Indian pilot Smit Machchar has described how he acted despite serious injuries to help stop an alleged attempt to crash a Flydubai flight carrying more than 170 people.
Speaking from a hospital in the United Arab Emirates with a bandage on his head, Machchar recounted the incident during a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his first public remarks since the event on Wednesday.
“I feel an immense sense of pride. At that moment, I was fighting for my life, but I realised that if I didn’t get up and act, after being seriously injured and lying on the floor, no one else would,” Machchar said.
According to Machchar, he was attacked by his Omani colleague in the cockpit but managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries.
“I’ve been flying planes for 17 years and have been a captain for the last 11 years, and I know what’s happening on the plane, even with my eyes closed,” he said.
“I knew that only one more push was needed to open the door. Despite my injuries, I opened it, and the rest of the crew came in and did their part. I knew I couldn’t let the passengers die.”
The Flydubai flight, identified as FZ1073 and bound for Israel from Dubai, later made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Indian and Israeli leaders praised Machchar’s actions following the incident.
“Captain Smit Machchar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11-like attack from happening,” Modi said.
“One hundred and forty crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said preliminary investigations found that the co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
Netanyahu said investigations were continuing to determine the motive behind the incident, which endangered the approximately 170 passengers and crew on board.
