Stories
Hero Pilot Captain Machchhar Recovers Well After Foiling Flydubai Crash Attempt
- •Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is in good health and recovering well after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a Flydubai flight.
- •Machchhar foiled an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board.
- •The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after Machchhar, despite serious injuries, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot.
- •Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited Captain Machchhar at the hospital, confirming his good health and recovery.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Captain Machchhar as a "true hero" for his actions that saved the flight.
Key Questions Answered
Captain Smit Machchhar is reported to be in good health and recovering well following the incident. The Indian Embassy in the UAE confirmed that Ambassador Deepak Mittal visited him and his family at the hospital.
Flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an alleged attempt by the co-pilot to crash the aircraft. The Omani co-pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar in the cockpit and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet.
Despite being seriously injured and covered in blood, Captain Machchhar used his remaining energy to open the cockpit door release. This allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enabled a second pair of Flydubai pilots on board to safely land the aircraft in Tabuk.
