Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot injured during a mid-air confrontation aboard a Flydubai passenger aircraft, has recounted his desperate efforts to regain control of the cockpit as the plane plunged thousands of feet.
Machchhar said he was lying injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the aircraft was rapidly descending. Despite his injuries, he summoned the strength to make one final attempt to open the cockpit door from inside.
“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Machchhar said during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that although he was fighting for his own life, he remained determined to prevent the other passengers from dying.
“I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he said.
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
The aircraft reportedly plunged more than 17,000ft, or about 5,200 metres, approximately two and a half hours into the journey.
An emergency signal was initially sent to air traffic controllers before the aircraft switched to squawk code 7500, an internationally recognised code indicating a hijacking situation.
Israeli officials later said one pilot had attacked the other before the aircraft was diverted.
Passengers eventually intervened and overpowered the attacker. Two reserve pilots who were travelling as passengers also assisted in taking control of the aircraft.
The plane was subsequently landed safely at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia at about 6:58am local time.
Machchhar was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. He was later reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have launched an investigation into the incident, including whether it was connected to any terrorist activity or purpose.
Machchhar, who has 17 years of experience as a pilot, said he remained confident that he would fully recover from his injuries.
“I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,” he said.
“I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time, but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.”
Modi praised Machchhar for his response during the emergency, describing his courage, patience and quick decision-making as instrumental in protecting the lives of those aboard the aircraft.
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