Stories
PM Modi Applauds Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar's Bravery in Preventing Mid-Air Disaster
- •Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, commending his bravery in preventing a potential 9/11-type attack.
- •Machchhar recounted the incident where his co-pilot attacked him mid-flight, leading him to fight back and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower the assailant.
- •PM Modi previously hailed Machchhar as a hero, stating that 140 crore Indians salute him for risking his life to save others.
- •The incident occurred on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, with off-duty pilots among the passengers landing the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •Investigations involving UAE, US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are underway to determine the circumstances, with terrorism and mental disorders being considered.
Key Questions Answered
On Wednesday during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Captain Smit Machchhar's copilot attacked him in an apparent attempt to take over and crash the aircraft. Machchhar fought back despite being stabbed, opened the cockpit door, and allowed passengers to overpower the attacker and land the plane safely.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Machchhar to applaud his bravery, wishing him a quick recovery and stating that he prevented a 9/11-type attack. Modi also spoke with Machchhar's wife and parents to assure them that Indian missions were providing all necessary assistance.
An official stated that the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are part of the investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining all possible scenarios, ranging from terrorism to mental disorders.
