Stories
PM Modi Hails Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar's Courage After Mid-Air Stabbing
- •Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot injured in a mid-air stabbing on a Flydubai flight, praising his bravery.
- •Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight with 174 people aboard, but managed to open the cockpit door.
- •Passengers and crew, including two off-duty pilots, subdued the attacker, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •The Boeing 737 made a sudden descent from 33,000 to 17,000 feet before its flight path became erratic.
- •PM Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both lauded Machchhar as a hero for his actions that saved hundreds of lives.
Key Questions Answered
Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured after being attacked by his co-pilot during Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door so passengers, crew members, and two off-duty pilots could subdue the attacker and safely divert the plane to Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke directly to Captain Smit Machchhar to applaud his bravery and wish him a speedy recovery. He also praised the pilot on social media, calling him a hero whose immense courage and resolve saved hundreds of lives and averted a major tragedy.
The Boeing 737 aircraft made a sharp descent from 33,000 feet and eventually landed safely in Tabuk, situated in northwestern Saudi Arabia. All 174 people on board, including passengers and crew, were reported safe following the emergency landing.
