Indian pilot Smith Machhar said that he opened the cockpit door of a Flydubai aircraft bound for Israel so that passengers could enter and stop its rapid descent.
During video calls with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Captain Machhar said he was lying on the floor whilst the co-pilot continued to attack him. It was then that he realised the plane was losing altitude and that he had to do something.
“I was lying on the floor, injured, but I told myself to make one last effort to open the door from the inside,” he said.
“Others came in and also played their part [in stabilising the situation]. I was, of course, fighting for my own life, but I knew I wouldn’t let the others die,” the pilot added.
Machhara was attacked by another pilot on board a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, forcing the aircraft to divert to Saudi Arabia.
Two hours after take-off, the aircraft plummeted more than 5,200 metres before the passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and regained control to make a safe landing.
Mode told the captain that “his courage, patience and quick decision-making saved many lives”, and that the whole country was proud of him.
The captain, whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described as a “true hero”, was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, a city in north-western Saudi Arabia.
He was later flown by helicopter to Abu Dhabi, where his condition is reportedly stable.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Thursday that Machhar “is feeling well and is recovering successfully”.
Ambassador Deepak Mittal noted that he was “proud of Captain Smith’s bravery” and felt “great relief” after meeting him.
“I don’t see this injury as a wound, as that would only complicate my recovery,” said Machhar.
“I see it as a journey that is gradually unfolding and takes time, but I am confident that I will recover and be healthy and fit again.”
Photo credit: Embassy of India in Israel
Captain Machhar grew up in the Indian city of Mumbai, where his parents still live.
He joined SpiceJet, an Indian airline, in 2011, and subsequently moved to Dubai. By 2022, when he joined Flydubai, he was already an experienced pilot.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he has over 9,750 hours of flying experience, including more than 6,400 hours as a captain.
Questions regarding the motives and background of the co-pilot who stabbed the captain of the passenger aircraft remain unanswered to this day.