Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Airlifted From Saudi Arabia To Dubai

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Dubai: The hero Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar who was injured at cockpit aboard a flydubai flight was airlifted to Dubai a day later for medical treatment after his condition stabilised following severe stabbing wounds at the hands of his co-pilot, an Omani national.

Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot inside the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft.

The Indian pilot was covered with blood on the floor when he managed to click the release to open the cockpit door, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu spokesperson told Reuters. That allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enable a second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board to land the jet in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

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Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Tabuk and that they were in touch with his family and Saudi authorities to provide all possible assistance. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said he was in stable condition.

Passengers described rushing the cockpit after the plane suddenly plummeted, losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute, according to the Flightradar24 website.

Airline flydubai said all of the passengers of whom 166 out of 174 were Israeli, according to media reports were safe.

Also Read: Indian-Origin Pilot Smit Machchhar Stabbed On Flight, Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing

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