Injured Pilot Recounts Opening Cockpit Door During Flydubai Attack
The Story
An Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, recounted his actions during an alleged co-pilot attack aboard a Flydubai flight from the UAE to Israel, stating he could not let all those people die.
Machchhar spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed, describing how he fought to open the cockpit door despite suffering numerous injuries. He said he felt the aircraft descending and knew opening the door was a last push to get help. Passengers and crew then intervened, allowing two other Flydubai pilots aboard to take control and divert the Boeing 737 to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was en route to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers and eight crew members. The aircraft reportedly plunged around 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds with no one at the controls. Machchhar, who has 17 years of aviation experience, including 11 as a captain, recited a Hindu prayer dedicated to Hanuman during the ordeal.
The co-pilot has been returned to the UAE for an investigation into potential terrorist activity. The UAE's general civil aviation authority commended Machchhar, the crew, and passengers for their intervention. Mostly Israeli passengers have been flown back to Israel on a replacement plane. India's Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, reported that Machchhar is stable and recovering well.
The Spread
The coverage 11 sources
- Center-LeftThe Logical Indian‘I Kept Reciting Hanuman Chalisa’: Captain Smit Machchhar Tells PM Modi How He Found Courage During Flydubai Crisis (opens the publisher’s site)
- Center-LeftTheJournal.ie'I could not let all those people die': Flydubai captain describes cockpit attack by co-pilot (opens the publisher’s site)
- RightWashington ExaminerIndian Flydubai pilot ‘recovering well’ in hospital: Ambassador (opens the publisher’s site)
- RightWestern Standard'I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE': FlyDubai pilot recounts mid-air stabbing (opens the publisher’s site)
- RightJust The NewsIndian pilot who stopped hijacking of FlyDubai aircraft gives account of what happened in cockpit (opens the publisher’s site)
- Far RightRT (Russia Today)Injured Indian FlyDubai pilot recounts cockpit ordeal in call with PM Modi (opens the publisher’s site)
Not placed on the lean scale
Not measuredHindustan TimesIndian envoy to UAE meets flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, says he is recovering well (opens the publisher’s site)- Not measuredIraqi NewsPilot in flydubai attack says could not let ‘all those people die’ (opens the publisher’s site)
- Not measuredRepublica (Nepal)Indian flydubai pilot tells Modi 'could not let all those people die' (opens the publisher’s site)
- Not measuredThe Times of India'Smiling & laughing': India's envoy to UAE meets flydubai hero pilot Smit Machchhar (opens the publisher’s site)