Stories
Indian Pilot Smit Macchar Hailed as Hero After Foiling Flydubai Hijack Attempt
- •A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a knife attack in the cockpit, leading to an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia.
- •Indian pilot Smit Macchar, despite being injured, managed to control the aircraft after the co-pilot allegedly attacked him and attempted to crash the plane.
- •Passengers and crew helped subdue the co-pilot, and the remaining crew safely landed the plane, saving all 174 people on board.
- •PM Modi spoke to Smit Macchar's parents, acknowledging his heroic actions.
- •Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel pending an investigation into the incident.
Key Questions Answered
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a knife attack inside the cockpit when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the main pilot and tried to crash the plane. The aircraft descended 14,000 feet in 30 seconds before making an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia with all 174 passengers safe.
Indian national Smit Macchar, the main pilot of the aircraft, handled the situation despite being injured. Passengers and crew members rushed to the cockpit to help subdue the co-pilot, allowing the rest of the crew to safely land the plane in Tabuk.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the parents of pilot Smit Macchar. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have detained and questioned the injured co-pilot, and Flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Israel pending an investigation.
