Stories
Netanyahu Reveals Heroic Actions on Flydubai Flight After Mid-Air Attack
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recounted the dramatic events aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, praising passengers and crew for their heroism.
- •Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was severely injured in a mid-air attack, suffering a stab wound to the head and a severely damaged arm, as the aircraft went into a nosedive.
- •Netanyahu highlighted the chaos and fear among passengers, who believed they were going to crash, but credited Machchhar and others with preventing a disaster.
- •Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal met with Captain Smit Machchhar in the hospital, confirming he is in good health and recovering well after being airlifted to the UAE.
- •Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia plan to resume flights to Dubai, seeking approvals after the incident and a previous halt due to the war with Iran.
Key Questions Answered
The flight experienced a mid-air attack by the co-pilot that caused the aircraft to go into a nosedive and created intense havoc among passengers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders credited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and an Israeli passenger with saving lives.
Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed in the head and suffered severe injuries to his arm during the mid-air attack. Netanyahu described that his arm was basically split in two with a lot of blood.
Israel's three largest airlines—El Al, Israir, and Arkia—have asked security authorities for permission to resume flights to Dubai. El Al plans at least two daily flights starting in November, while Israir and Arkia aim to resume operations soon pending approvals.
