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Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot in an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai jet, but he opened the cockpit door so passengers and crew could subdue the attacker and off-duty pilots could land the plane in Saudi Arabia.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar is being hailed as a hero after he was stabbed by his colleague in an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai plane on Wednesday.
The leaders of Israel and India praised him for saving the lives of 174 people on board flight FZ1073. The struggle began when the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and sent the jet plunging nearly 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) in less than 30 seconds. Machchhar was covered with blood on the floor when he managed to click the release to open the cockpit door, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters.
Passengers Overpower Co-Pilot
That action allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots who were on board then took control of the aircraft and landed the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. One of the off-duty pilots who guided the plane to safety was reportedly a New Zealander. Netanyahu said Machchhar saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.
In a post on X, he wrote that all passengers were out of harm's way, a statement he had earlier made in a video released by his office. He described the event as a highly severe security incident. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Machchhar in a post on X early on Thursday, calling him a hero.
Modi said that in the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, Machchhar showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy, Modi added. Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was receiving necessary medical attention in a hospital in the north-western city of Tabuk.
Modi Commends Pilot Courage
They said they are in touch with his family and Saudi authorities to extend all possible help. Stuff.co.nz reported that Machchhar trained at Mainland Air in Dunedin for 18 months from 2008 to 2009. Philip Kean, chief executive of the New Zealand aviation college and charter airline, said Machchhar was an above-average pilot. Kean said they have incapacitation training for pilots as part of their training, but I do not think they have stabbing.
He added that he had sent a message to Machchhar as he recovered in hospital. Kean also commented on the off-duty pilots who took control of the plane. He said they did a great job recovering the airplane and they were very lucky the airplane did not fall apart. The cause of the altercation between the pilots was not clear.
Flydubai said in a statement that the underlying reasons for the event remained unknown and warned against premature speculation. The airline also suspended flights to and from Israel amid an investigation. Netanyahu said Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot of flydubai FZ1073, which had been en route from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. The incident has drawn international attention, with both Israeli and Indian leaders highlighting Machchhar's bravery in the face of a deadly attack.
Co-Pilot Arrested Investigation Ongoing
Machchhar's actions prevented a catastrophic crash and allowed all passengers and crew to escape unharmed. The co-pilot was arrested after the midair stabbing and crash attempt, and heroes were praised for thwarting disaster. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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theage:‘Immense courage and an unwavering resolve’: Captain in bloody cockpit struggle hailed as heroThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Smit Machchhar Cockpit Stabbing Tabuk Landing Crash Attempt
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