FlyDubai Pilot Stabbed by Co-Pilot Recounts Fight to Save Passengers

An Indian captain who helped stop an apparent hijacking attempt on a FlyDubai flight has described fighting for his life after his co-pilot stabbed him and the aircraft entered a steep descent. Captain Smit Machchhar spoke on Friday, October 2, from an Abu Dhabi hospital, where he is recovering from serious injuries sustained in the attack on Wednesday, September 30. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that was broadcast live on television news channels, Machchhar said he knew he had to get back on his feet to save the passengers on board. "I had so many wounds. I had fallen down," he said, his head bandaged and tubes in his nose, before breaking down as he recalled the attack. "I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn't get up … then passengers would lose their lives," he told 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. Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, India's financial hub, was seriously injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended sharply, according to witnesses and Israeli authorities. He has been hailed as a hero for his actions, with world leaders saying he helped prevent a potential disaster. The flight, carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. Machchhar said that during those difficult moments, he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman and traditionally recited as a prayer for strength and courage. "Lord Hanuman gave me courage," he told Modi. Machchhar, who is married and has two children, has worked for FlyDubai for about four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before joining the airline, he spent 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain. He logged more than 9,750 flying hours with SpiceJet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia and was undergoing interrogation there. His motive for the attack was not immediately clear.