'I Couldn't Let Everybody Else Die,' Says Hero FlyDubai Pilot
The FlyDubai captain who was badly wounded in a mid-flight cockpit attack this week is speaking out for the first time, and his words are already being shared around the world.
"I was doing this for my life, but at the same time, I knew that I couldn't let everybody else die," Captain Smit Machchhar said, recalling the moment he dragged himself to the cockpit door so passengers could come to his aid.
A Terrifying Few Seconds
Machchhar was in command of FlyDubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board.
During the flight, the plane's first officer attacked him inside the cockpit, according to a preliminary finding released by Saudi Arabia. The aircraft sent out emergency transponder codes and lost more than 14,000 feet in about 29 seconds, Gulf News reported.
Machchhar said he was so badly hurt that he collapsed to the cockpit floor.
"In that moment, I was fighting for my life," he said. "I was so severely wounded that I had fallen down."
Even then, he could feel the plane descending. He said he told himself, "One last push, Smit! Just do it. The door is right there."
Passengers Rush In
While still under attack, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew rushed in and restrained the first officer.
Two off-duty FlyDubai pilots who happened to be on board helped secure the aircraft. The flight was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
"The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty FlyDubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport," the airline said in a statement. "All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for."
Images later showed blood spattered across the cockpit. Machchhar lost a large amount of blood and was treated in Tabuk before being airlifted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, according to CNN. India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said he was recovering well and was "speaking openly, smiling and laughing."
The response by those on board echoes other recent in-flight emergencies in which travelers helped subdue a threat, including a United passenger arrested in June after others held him down when he tried to open a cabin door, and a man who tried to breach the cockpit on a flight to Newark in May.
Who Is Smit Machchhar?
Machchhar is an Indian pilot based in Dubai with 17 years of flying experience, 11 of them as a captain. He comes from a Gujarati family in the textile business and first studied textile engineering before switching to aviation. He is a father of two.
He said faith helped carry him through. He recites the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional prayer, during difficult moments. "I know that God saved me," he said.
World Leaders Praise His Courage
Machchhar shared his account in a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Your courage, patience, and presence of mind saved so many lives," Modi told him. "You have done a very big thing."
Indian President Droupadi Murmu praised his "incredible presence of mind" and "indomitable spirit." President Donald Trump said, "The pilot was in very bad shape. But in a way, he was a hero to open the door." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also saluted the captain for his "extraordinary bravery."
What We Still Don't Know
The first officer, who is reportedly from Oman, has not been publicly named. He was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, where authorities have opened a judicial investigation. Saudi Arabia, the UAE's civil aviation authority and Israel are all investigating.
No motive has been established. Netanyahu has suggested the suspect underwent "Islamist radical indoctrination," but officials have not confirmed a motive or what weapon was used. FlyDubai has urged "all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts."
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