Stories
Israel to Honor Captain Smit Machchhar for Heroism in Flydubai Cockpit Attack
- •Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar announced Israel's plan to recognize Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a "great hero" for his actions during a cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.
- •Captain Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot inside the cockpit while flying the Tel Aviv-bound aircraft, which was carrying 174 people.
- •During the confrontation, the flight entered a steep descent, raising fears of a major disaster before passengers intervened.
- •Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun and another passenger entered the cockpit, pulling the co-pilot away from the controls, while two off-duty pilots on board helped stabilize the aircraft.
- •The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing, and Captain Machchhar was hospitalized in stable condition.
Key Questions Answered
Israel plans to honour Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery and actions while seriously injured during a cockpit attack by his co-pilot on a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight. Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar praised Machchhar as a great hero whose conduct struck a chord with Israel's leadership and citizens.
While flying a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai aircraft with 174 people on board, Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked and stabbed inside the cockpit by his co-pilot. The aircraft entered a steep descent during the confrontation before passengers, including Yaniv Hayun, and two off-duty pilots intervened to subdue the co-pilot, stabilise the plane, and divert it to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Following the intervention by passengers who pulled the co-pilot away from the controls, two off-duty pilots travelling on the flight took charge and stabilised the aircraft. The flight was then safely diverted for an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Captain Machchhar was hospitalised in stable condition.
