Pilot Smit Machchhar Recalls Fighting Off Cockpit Attacker
· World · ABC News, New York Times
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot who thwarted an attempt to crash a flydubai flight, has described the struggle to regain control of the aircraft after being stabbed by his co-pilot. Speaking from an Abu Dhabi hospital, the 39-year-old pilot said he realized he had to act to save the 182 people on board despite his severe injuries. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended sharply. The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, for an emergency landing, and the attacker, an Omani national, remains in custody.
Why it matters
The pilot's quick thinking and physical intervention prevented a potential mass-casualty event during the flight to Tel Aviv.
Read the original report — ABC News
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