I fought to save passengers, says Flydubai pilot

The Indian pilot of a Flydubai passenger aircraft has recounted how he fought to regain control of the cockpit after being attacked by his co-pilot, saying he was determined not to let other passengers die.

Captain Smit Machchhar said he was lying injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the aircraft was rapidly descending and knew he had to make one final attempt to open the cockpit door.

As reported by the BBC on Friday, “I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Machchhar said during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Others came in and also played a role in controlling the situation. I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he added.

Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv early on Wednesday, plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) about two and a half hours into its journey.

PUNCH Online had reported that one of the pilots of the Israel-bound flydubai flight that was diverted on Wednesday attacked his co-pilot and tried to crash the plane to kill everyone, a passenger said.

The aircraft initially sent an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before switching to squawk code 7500, the internationally recognised code for a hijacking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said one pilot had stabbed the other before “apparently trying to crash” the aircraft.

Passengers eventually overpowered the attacker, while two reserve pilots travelling as passengers took control of the aircraft and safely landed it at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia at 06:58 local time.

Machchhar, who was described by Netanyahu as a “true hero”, was initially taken to hospital in Tabuk before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. He was later reported to be in stable condition.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker was an Omani national and said investigations suggested he had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination”.

He also said the attacker repeatedly called on the aircrew to “kill me” after being subdued and restrained by passengers and crew.

The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation into the incident, including “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose”, according to the country’s state news agency.

Machchhar has received widespread praise in India following the incident, with the Indian government commending his courage and quick response.

The pilot told Modi that he had been flying aircraft for 17 years and could recognise what was happening to the plane even under extremely difficult circumstances.

Modi told Machchhar that his “courage, patience and quick decision-making saved the lives of so many people”, adding that the country was proud of him.

The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Machchhar was in good health and recovering well, while India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said he was proud of the pilot’s bravery.

Machchhar said he remained confident about making a full recovery despite his injuries.

“I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,” he said.

“I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time, but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.”