Flydubai captain praised after alleged cockpit attack forces Saudi diversion
publishers 32articles 62first reported 30 Sep, 19:57 UTCdeveloping since 1 Oct · 2 editions
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with more than a decade of commercial aviation experience, has been praised for his actions during an alleged cockpit attack aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
According to Israeli officials and passenger accounts cited by Newsweek, the first officer attacked Machchhar and attempted to seize control of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Wednesday. The aircraft reportedly fell from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly a minute before passengers and crew subdued the suspect.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured but resisted the attacker and opened the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Netanyahu called him a “true hero” and said he saved 174 lives. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar’s courage and wished him a speedy recovery.
Two qualified pilots traveling as passengers reportedly helped stabilize the aircraft and guide it to a safe landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was in stable condition, according to the Associated Press.
Flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel while authorities investigate, saying the temporary measure would allow officials to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
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