An Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, has been hailed for his extraordinary courage after a violent cockpit attack nearly turned an Israel-bound flydubai flight into a disaster.
During Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot while the aircraft suddenly went into a steep descent. Despite being seriously injured, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker. Other pilots on board then helped regain control of the aircraft, which made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The flight carried 174 passengers and six crew members. All passengers survived. Machchhar, a former SpiceJet pilot from India, is recovering in hospital. His actions, together with those of passengers and crew, helped avert what could have been a catastrophic mid-air tragedy.
During Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot while the aircraft suddenly went into a steep descent. Despite being seriously injured, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker. Other pilots on board then helped regain control of the aircraft, which made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The flight carried 174 passengers and six crew members. All passengers survived. Machchhar, a former SpiceJet pilot from India, is recovering in hospital. His actions, together with those of passengers and crew, helped avert what could have been a catastrophic mid-air tragedy.