Smit Machchhar had fallen to the floor of the cabin and felt the plane was descending. He was injured, but managed to recognize a possibility of receiving help: the door was near. On Friday, October 2, the commander of Flydubai told how he managed to open it after the attack of his co-pilot during the flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
The pilot spoke to India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, through a video call from a hospital in Abu Dhabi. He appeared with bandages on his head and hands, and dried his tears while reconstructing what had happened, Reuters.
“I fought for my life. And I couldn’t let all those people die,” Machchhar said, according to the testimony gathered by Associated Press. He explained that, even in that state, he understood that he had to get up because the lives of the passengers were also in danger.
In his account, Machchhar described the pain and difficulty to move after suffering the wounds. From the ground he could see that the aircraft was losing height. Then he concentrated his forces on reaching the door and opening the entrance.
According to the reconstruction of his statements published by The National, the commander told himself he had to make a last effort. When he opened the door, other people entered. That moment allowed the emergency, until then locked in the command cabin, to receive assistance from the rest of the aircraft.
The testimony provides the pilot’s perspective on a sequence that had so far been known mainly by passenger and authority accounts. His decision to open the door allowed the intervention of those on the other side; later, other crew members took control of the aircraft.
Flydubai confirmed in a statement that personnel on board secured the aircraft, turned it off and landed at the airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred on Wednesday 30 September on FZ1073. According to Reuters, the co-pilot attacked the commander and the plane experienced a sudden descent. Passengers and crew entered the cabin and reduced the alleged assailant. Israeli authorities claimed they had attempted to shoot down the aircraft.
The airline confirmed that all passengers were safe after landing and sent two replacement aircraft to Tabuk. In his early communications, he described the incident as an altercation in the cabin and warned that the causes and motives were still under investigation.
During Friday's conversation, Modi praised Machchhar's courage and wished him a swift recovery, Indian public broadcaster News On AIR. The pilot was able to personally explain what he had experienced and what prompted him to act while he was injured.
The investigation must establish the complete sequence of the attack and its motives. Flydubai urged to avoid premature speculation and announced the temporary suspension of its flights to and from Israel, in coordination with the authorities.
In the statement consulted, the airline did not set a date to resume them: it indicated that it will review the suspension as the investigation progresses and more information is available.
