"I was not going to let the others die": the captain of the Dubai to Israel flight recounts his copilot's attack in the cockpit

Image source, Narendra Modi Author, Vikas Pandey Reports from, Delhi Publication date 15 minutes Reading time: 3 min The Indian pilot of the Flydubai aircraft, who was attacked by his copilot and opened the cockpit door to let other people in, declared that he was determined to prevent the others from dying. Smit Machchhar recounted that he was on the floor and was still being assaulted when he realized that the plane, which was carrying more than 170 passengers, was rapidly losing altitude and that he had to do something. "I was lying on the floor, injured, but I told myself that I had to make one last effort to open the door from the inside," he said during a video call with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. "Other people came in and also played a role (in controlling the situation). Of course, I was fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let the others die," he added. Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was heading to Tel Aviv from Dubai in the early hours of Wednesday, dropped more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) after two and a half hours of flight. It initially sent an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before switching to transponder code 7500, which indicates a hijacking. It subsequently switched back to an emergency signal. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told the media after the incident that one pilot had stabbed the other before "apparently attempting to crash" the plane. After other passengers subdued the attacker, two pilots who were traveling on board managed to land the aircraft safely at Tabuk airport, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, at 06:58, local time. Skip Most read and continue readingMost readEnd of Most read Machchhar, described as a "true hero" by Netanyahu, was taken to a hospital in Tabuk itself before being evacuated by air to Abu Dhabi, where, according to reports, he is in stable condition. Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker was an Omani citizen and noted that investigations suggested he had undergone "radical Islamist indoctrination." He stated that, once the attacker was subdued and tied up by the passengers and crew, "he was shouting: 'Kill me, kill me,' so it is clear that he had suicidal tendencies; there is no doubt about that." The United Arab Emirates has begun investigating "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose," according to the country's state news agency. Image source, Embassy of India in Israel Photo caption, The government of India has praised Smit Machchhar for his "immense courage." Social media in India has been filled with praise for Machchhar since his identity was revealed. Machchhar told Modi that he had been flying planes for 17 years and that "he can tell what is happening to the aircraft even with his eyes closed." The Prime Minister told him that "his courage, patience, and quickness in making decisions saved the lives of many people" and that the whole country was proud of him. The Embassy of India in the United Arab Emirates reported on Thursday that Machchhar was "in good health and recovering well." Ambassador Deepak Mittal expressed feeling "proud of Captain Smit for his bravery" and "very calm" after meeting with him. "I do not see this wound simply as a wound, because that would make my recovery even more difficult," Machchhar said. "I see it as a process that moves forward little by little and will take time, but I am confident that I will recover and will be healthy and in full shape again." Download the new BBC World Service app. Choose BBC News Mundo and receive news alerts, documentaries, and analysis, all in one place. Important: the new app is not available in the United Kingdom or the United States. You can also follow us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and on our WhatsApp channel. And don't forget to subscribe here to our newsletter to receive a special selection of our best content every Friday. Discover moreSkip Video and continueVideoEnd of Video