The incident unfolded on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel when the co‑pilot, apparently intent on hijacking the aircraft, attempted to take control. Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, immediately blocked the assault, opening the cockpit door for the passengers. This decisive action enabled the crew and passengers to overpower the attacker, preventing a disaster.
The flight departed from Dubai and, after the confrontation, managed to land safely in Saudi Arabia. Remarkably, every passenger and crew member survived the ordeal, thanks largely to the captain’s courage and quick thinking.
While recovering in a hospital bed, Captain Machchhar received a call from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hailed him as a hero for his actions that prevented casualties. Modi’s call underlined the nation’s pride in the pilot’s bravery and support for aviation safety.
