Indian pilot recounts flydubai ordeal, says ‘I could not let all those people die’

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was wounded during an alleged attack by his co-pilot aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, said he acted to protect the passengers and prevent the aircraft from crashing.

 

Machchhar made the disclosure during a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed on Friday. Modi later shared a video of the conversation on social media.

 

The Boeing 737, operated by Dubai-based flydubai, was carrying 174 passengers when the altercation occurred on Wednesday.

 

Machchhar, who has 17 years of aviation experience, including 11 years as a captain, said he realised the aircraft was losing altitude while he was injured and decided to make a final attempt to regain control.

 

“I had suffered so many injuries that I had collapsed. At that time, I could feel that the aircraft was going down. I knew this was the last push, that the door was right there,” he said.

 

“I was being hit even then, but I just opened the door and everyone came in.”

 

Machchhar said his years of aviation experience helped him understand the situation despite his injuries.

 

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar, leaving him wounded and triggering a struggle for control of the aircraft.

 

Passengers reportedly rushed into the cockpit and helped regain control of the aircraft after it suddenly lost about 17,000 feet in altitude within a minute, according to Flightradar24.

 

The aircraft was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

 

Modi credited Machchhar’s actions with helping to save the lives of those on board and avert what he described as “a great tragedy.”

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also credited Machchhar and the passengers with helping to prevent a catastrophe.