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Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Recounts Heroic Fight Against Co-Pilot Attack to Netanyahu
M
Moneycontrol•04-10-2026, 07:40
Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Recounts Heroic Fight Against Co-Pilot Attack to Netanyahu
- •Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar bravely fought off an attack by his Omani co-pilot during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, regaining control of the cockpit.
- •Machchhar told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he "gave everything" to open the cockpit door after the co-pilot assaulted him.
- •The attack began after the co-pilot requested to pray, then struck Machchhar from behind, leading to a struggle as the aircraft pitched downward.
- •Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door using a twist mechanism, despite the co-pilot's attempts to keep it closed and colleagues trying to enter from outside.
- •Netanyahu praised Machchhar as a hero and invited him to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day celebrations alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Questions Answered
Captain Smit Machchhar fought back against his Omani co-pilot, managed to twist the knob to open the cockpit door, and allowed colleagues outside to take over the controls.
Prime Minister Netanyahu invited Captain Machchhar to light a torch alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Israel's next Independence Day celebrations.
Prime Minister Modi spoke directly to Captain Smit Machchhar's family members to applaud his extraordinary bravery.
