Pilot recounts fight for control of FlyDubai cockpit after hijacker attack

Capt. Smit Machchhar fought for his life after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight, and he is now telling his story directly to the public. In a televised video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar described the attack that left him wounded and the split-second decisions that saved the lives of 182 passengers on the FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The Attack and the Descent

Mumbai native Machchhar suffered serious injuries during Wednesday’s attack. According to witnesses and Israeli authorities, he managed to open the cockpit door on his own, which allowed passengers to enter and restrain the attacker while the plane made a sharp descent. The flight was redirected to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.

FlyDubai confirmed Wednesday that the jet was secured by on-duty crew members “who diverted and landed the aircraft safely.” A regional official said the crew members were pilots in training. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was detained in Saudi Arabia and was undergoing interrogation there. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

What Machchhar Said to Modi

From his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, Machchhar spoke through tears as he recalled the attack. His head was wrapped in bandages and tubes were inserted into his nose. He told Modi he understood he needed to recover in order to save his passengers.

“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” he said. “I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn’t get up… then passengers would lose their lives.”

Machchhar’s “courage, patience, and presence of mind” saved many lives, Modi said in reply.

Flying Through the Pain

The pilot said his long career gave him the instinct to feel the aircraft’s sharp descent even after he was struck down by the attacker. With 17 years of flight experience behind him and the rank of captain held for the past 11, he believes that familiarity with the craft is what let him know something had gone wrong despite being rendered unconscious.

“I have been flying planes for 17 years and serving as a captain for the last 11 years. I can sense exactly what is happening with the aircraft even with my eyes closed. When I was down, I could feel that the aircraft was plummeting,” he said.

The man said his faith gave him the courage he needed during the attack. He repeated the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu song of devotion to Lord Hanuman, the monkey god, which is commonly said as a prayer for strength and courage.

“Lord Hanuman gave me courage,” he told Modi.

Machchhar has been married for about four years to FlyDubai and has two children. Prior to joining the airline, he spent 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, during which he held the posts of senior commander and line training captain. His total flight time with SpiceJet exceeds 9,750.

What Training Did Not Prepare Him For

Mainland Air’s CEO Philip Kean told the AP that pilots learn how to step in when a fellow crew member is unable to perform their duties. He added that the training does not usually cover a stabbing attack carried out by a colleague.

“I don’t think there’s much in the handbook for being stabbed,” Kean said.

“You’re friends and you’re flying together,” he said. “Nobody would expect… a person to have a go at you like that.”

The World’s Response

Machchhar has been celebrated as a hero, with world leaders praising his actions. The diversion of the flight was a coordinated response that required several stages.

The sequence of events followed a clear chain:

1. Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot.
2. He managed to open the cockpit door.
3. Passengers entered and restrained the attacker.
4. The plane was diverted to Tabuk.
5. The aircraft landed safely.
6. The attacker was detained in Saudi Arabia.

The entire operation demanded constant decision-making amid intense strain. Machchhar’s capacity to respond while wounded — along with his readiness to permit passengers into the cockpit — proved decisive for the outcome of the flight.

While investigators continue to look into the attack and its motive remains unknown, Machchhar’s actions helped prevent a disaster from occurring.

Source material: “‘I was fighting for my life’: Pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack,” ABC News.

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