Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar recounts co-pilot attack from Abu Dhabi hospital

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who fought off a mid-flight attack by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, described the ordeal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his Abu Dhabi hospital bed.

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot hailed as a hero for helping thwart an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight, has described from his Abu Dhabi hospital bed how he fought for his life after his co-pilot stabbed him.

In a nearly 10-minute video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released by the prime minister's office on Friday, local time, Machchhar recounted the harrowing attack. The 38-year-old pilot, his head bandaged and tubes in his nose, broke down as he recalled the incident. I had so many wounds. I had fallen down, he said.

Machchhar Recounts Courage During Emergency

I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realised that if I didn't get up then passengers would lose their lives, he told Modi. Machchhar said he knew the aircraft was going down and that he had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it.

I managed to do it and people entered, he said. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended sharply. The flight was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot attacked on Wednesday. The jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet (4,267 metres) in less than 30 seconds during the incident.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia and was undergoing interrogation there. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear and remains unclear. Israel has claimed the co-pilot was an Islamist radical who shared hate online.

Machchhar said that during those difficult moments, he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman and traditionally recited as a prayer for strength and courage. Lord Hanuman gave me courage, he told Modi. Machchhar, who is from India's financial hub of Mumbai, was seriously injured in Wednesday's attack but has been hailed as a hero for his actions. World leaders said he helped prevent a potential disaster.

Machchhar's Career at flydubai

He is married and has two children. He has worked for flydubai for about four years, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before joining the airline, he spent 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain. He logged more than 9,750 flying hours with SpiceJet.

Compiled from 5 sourcesCompiled by HeadTopics editors by cross-checking the verified news reports listed here.

theage brisbanetimes:‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack GuardianAus:‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack smh:‘I was fighting for my life’: Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls flydubai cockpit attack abcnews:Flydubai 'hero' pilot says praying gave him courage

This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.

Smit Machchhar Dubai Tel Aviv Flight Tabuk Emergency Landing Omani Attacker Arrested Flydubai Attack Narendra Modi Abu Dhabi Hospital Omani National Flydubai Flight Attack Flydubai Tel Aviv Flight Hanuman Chalisa Tel Aviv Flight

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