Jerusalem, Oct. 4: Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot who reportedly fought off an attempt to take control of a flydubai aircraft bound for Israel, has revealed the terrifying moments he endured inside the cockpit before managing to regain access and prevent a potential disaster.
Speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Machchhar described how an apparently routine flight suddenly turned into a life-threatening struggle after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him.
Machchhar, who suffered serious injuries in the incident, said everything had initially appeared normal. The co-pilot had told him that he wanted to pray, which Machchhar said was not unusual among local passengers and crew.
Respecting the request, he turned his attention towards the front of the cockpit.
‘Suddenly, There Was a Big Blow’
Machchhar recalled that several minutes later, he was struck violently on the back of his head.
“After about four to five minutes, there was a big blow to the back of my head.”
Initially, the pilot believed the aircraft itself might have suffered catastrophic damage. However, as the blows continued, he realised that the danger was coming from inside the cockpit.
“I realised that it’s not the aircraft, it’s the other guy who is in the cockpit with me,” he recalled.
The initial assault severely affected Machchhar’s vision, leaving him struggling to see and respond.
He said he attempted to fight back, but his blurred vision made it extremely difficult to understand what was happening around him. Moments later, he sensed the aircraft descending sharply.
“The next feeling I had was that the aircraft was sharply going down,” he said, acknowledging that his memories of the incident remain fragmented.
A Final Attempt to Reach the Cockpit Door
During the struggle, Machchhar said he managed to open the cockpit door once, but believed the co-pilot closed it again.
At one point, the injured pilot found himself lying on the cockpit floor. He could hear the aircraft moving rapidly, accompanied by what he described as a “whooshing” sound and the screams of passengers.
That was when Machchhar realised he had one final opportunity to act.
Despite his injuries and the assault he had already endured, he summoned what he described as his remaining strength and made another attempt to reach the cockpit door.
“I had that one last fight left in me.”
Machchhar said he pushed himself forward, opened the door and created an opportunity for others to intervene.
“I gave everything that I had and went for the door and opened the door.”
He said people were then able to rush in and take control of the situation.
“Thankfully, people were waiting to pounce back, took over control and the rest is what you know,” he said.
Netanyahu Praises Pilot’s Courage
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his actions, describing his composure under extreme circumstances as extraordinary.
Netanyahu said the pilot had not only protected the people aboard the aircraft but had demonstrated the ability of courage and determination to overcome an extremely dangerous situation.
“You’re a hero of Israel. You’re a hero of India. You’re a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told Machchhar.
The Israeli Prime Minister also conveyed his best wishes to Machchhar’s family and expressed hope that the injured pilot would recover quickly.
Netanyahu invited Machchhar to return to Israel and said he expected the pilot’s future visit to be a memorable and historic one.
Modi Also Praises Machchhar
The conversation came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Machchhar by telephone.
Modi praised the pilot’s courage and determination during the incident, noting that he continued to protect the lives of others despite suffering serious injuries.
Machchhar’s account has since highlighted the extraordinary circumstances faced by the flight crew and passengers—and the critical final effort that helped prevent the situation from turning into an even greater tragedy.