In brief
Captain Smit Machchhar of Flydubai, flying toward Israel, was attacked by his co‑pilot on the ground. In a daring move he forced the cockpit door open, allowing passengers to help calm the aircraft and arrest its rapid descent. The pilot later spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his bravery. Machchhar was flown first to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and then to Abu Dhabi, where he is recovering. The incident has drawn praise from Israeli officials and highlights growing concerns over aviation safety.
In a dramatic turn of events, Captain Smit Machchhar of Flydubai opened his cockpit door while the aircraft was on the ground, halting a dangerous rapid descent caused by an assault from his co‑pilot.
During the emergency, the pilot found himself on the floor, wounded, and still being attacked. He pushed himself to reopen the door, which allowed other crew members and, reportedly, some passengers to intervene and help control the situation.
Captain Machchhar spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a video call, where Modi lauded the captain’s courage, patience, and quick decision‑making, stating that he saved many lives.
The incident forced the flight scheduled from Dubai to Tel Aviv to divert to Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in stable condition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described the pilot as a true hero. The Indian Embassy in the UAE confirmed that Machchhar is “in good health and recovering well,” expressing pride in his bravery.
More details will be provided as the situation develops. Viewers can continue to follow updates via the BBC News App or @BBCBreaking on X.
