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Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He opened the cockpit door to seek help, saving 174 lives.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, leading to a dramatic plunge of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Machchhar recounted the attack and his desperate effort to open the cockpit door to seek help.
Survival and Heroism
Speaking from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, with a tube in his nose and bandages on his head and hands, Machchhar wiped away tears as he narrated his ordeal during a nearly 10-minute clip released on the prime minister’s social media channels. He said he knew the aircraft was going down and that he had fallen to the ground, but told himself the door was right there and managed to open it, allowing people to enter.
Machchhar, who has been flying for 17 years and a captain for 11, said he recited a Hindu prayer to the monkey god Hanuman during the ordeal. He told Modi that God saved him. Modi praised Machchhar’s bravery, saying his presence of mind saved lives and the reputation of Indian pilots. Modi added that the whole country can proudly say that Indians are not people who take lives but people who save lives.
The incident occurred on a flight with 174 people on board. Machchhar was covered with blood and on the floor when he managed to open the cockpit door, according to a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. That allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and let a second pair of FlyDubai pilots on board take control of the jet and land it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Investigation and Diplomatic Fallout
The co-pilot, an Omani national, has been moved to the United Arab Emirates for further questioning. Investigators are seeking additional information from the plane’s voice and data recorders to replay the final hour of the flight. The status of the black boxes hasn’t been announced. Some recorders use a continuous loop that can overwrite existing data, meaning crucial moments could have been erased.
The preliminary investigation in Saudi Arabia confirmed there was an altercation in the cockpit, with the co-pilot assaulting the captain. Both men were injured during the struggle, but the statement didn’t provide further details or name the crew members. Social media videos showed the bloodied crew members in the aftermath of what’s been called an attack using an axe.
The nationality of the co-pilot is in the spotlight because Oman and Israel don’t have formal diplomatic ties, which restricts their citizens’ access to each other’s countries. That means an Omani crew member shouldn’t be flying a plane destined for Israel. The FlyDubai service was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv. Israel transportation minister Miriam Regev called it a clear breach of the agreement and asked the security agency Shin Bet to investigate, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Aviation Protocols and Next Steps
The initial inquiry was done in Saudi Arabia in co-ordination with a UAE security team, which follows globally recognised aviation standards. The Chicago convention signed in 1944 stipulates that the state where the incident occurred owns the investigation, but that nation can seek assistance from the states where the plane was made and registered. In the case of flight FZ1073, invitations may be extended to both the US Federal Aviation Administration since the plane was made by Boeing and to the UAE since the plane was registered there.
Following medical clearance, both pilots departed Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday, October 1st, accompanied by the UAE security team, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The Boeing 737 jet made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk. The incident has raised questions about security protocols and international aviation regulations.
Smit Machchhar Flydubai Dubai Tel Aviv Flight Narendra Modi Omani Co-Pilot Tabuk Landing Black Boxes
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