Hero pilot who saved Tel Aviv-bound passengers during attempted hijacking speaks to PM Modi

The pilot of the Flydubai plane that was involved in an attempted mid-air hijacking attempt has spoken to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed in Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his Omani co-pilot as the flight was over Jordanian air space, headed to Tel Aviv.

The Indian pilot is being hailed as a hero for opening the cockpit door even while he was seriously injured to allow crew members and passengers to enter the cockpit and subdue the co-pilot who had stabbed him. Machchhar described the situation to Modi in a recent interview.

“Sir, I was fighting for my life," he said. "There was a moment that I realized that if I didn’t do something, because I had fallen, I had so many wounds that I had fallen down, and, at that time, I thought that, if I didn’t get up...

“I, as someone who has been flying planes for 17 years, I have been a captain for the last 11 years, and I can tell even with my eyes closed what’s happening on the plane. When I was down, I felt, at that moment, realized that the aircraft was going down, and I knew for sure that this was the last push, if I could make it.

“The cabin door was just there. And at that moment, I was taking the hit. I just opened it, sir. Everyone else came, and everyone had their own role in it. But, knowingly, I told everyone that I was doing it based on my own life. But at the same time, I also knew that I couldn’t let them all die.”

Machchhar said that he was very proud that PM Modi had called him and apologized for becoming emotional. Modi replied, saying, “Smit, if you won’t be emotional in front of me, then where will you be?”

Modi went on to tell the pilot, “Brother, you have done such a great job that every citizen of the country, and even people around the world are eager to see you and talk to you.” He added, “ I also express my heartfelt gratitude to the Saudi government and the UAE government for taking such good care of you. I am grateful to them as well.” PM Modi then told Machchhar that if he needed anything, that he was only a phone call away.

The Tel Aviv-bound plane that Machchcar piloted was carrying 174 passengers, 166 of them Israeli. It plunged 17,000 feet when the Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain multiple times in the attempted hijacking. “There was a fight to the death in the cockpit,” said retired Navy fighter pilot Matthew Buckley.

The plane had transmitted an emergency code (7700, followed by 7500) used to signal a hijacking and turned off its radar. Israeli air traffic control were unable to make contact with the plane for over half an hour.

Crew members and passengers were able to enter the cockpit and subdue the co-pilot. There were two other pilots on board who were then were able take control to safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.