The Indian captain who helped prevent what authorities described as an apparent attempt to hijack a Flydubai flight has recounted the terrifying moments he fought to regain control of the aircraft after allegedly being stabbed by his co-pilot.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured during the incident, spoke about his ordeal on Friday, October 2, while recovering at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was broadcast on television, Machchhar described how he struggled to remain conscious and return to his feet after sustaining multiple wounds during the attack.
“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” the captain said from his hospital bed, his head heavily bandaged and medical tubes visible around his nose.
He became emotional as he recalled the moment he realised that his actions could determine whether the passengers aboard the aircraft survived.
“I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realised that if I didn’t get up, then passengers would lose their lives,” Machchhar told Modi.
He said other people also played an important role in bringing the situation under control, but stressed that his determination was driven not only by his own survival but also by the need to protect everyone on board.
“Others came in and also played a role in controlling the situation. I was, of course, fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he said.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 30, while the Boeing 737 was operating a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 182 people on board.
According to accounts of the incident, Machchhar was attacked in the cockpit and seriously wounded. Despite his injuries, he reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to gain access and help restrain the alleged attacker as the aircraft entered a steep descent.
The plane was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar’s actions have attracted widespread praise, with officials and leaders describing his response as instrumental in preventing a potentially catastrophic outcome.
Speaking about how he found the strength to continue fighting during the crisis, the captain said he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman, who is traditionally associated with strength, courage and devotion.
“Lord Hanuman gave me courage,” Machchhar told Modi.
The captain, who is married and has two children, is from Mumbai, India’s financial and commercial centre. He has reportedly worked with Flydubai for about four years.
Before joining the Dubai-based airline, Machchhar spent approximately 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier. During his time there, he served as a senior commander and line training captain and accumulated more than 9,750 hours of flying experience, according to information from his professional profile.
The incident has prompted investigations into the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack, including how the alleged attacker gained access to the cockpit and what triggered the confrontation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect, identified as an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia after the aircraft made its emergency landing. Netanyahu said the suspect was undergoing interrogation, while the motive behind the alleged attack had not immediately been established.
The incident has drawn attention to the importance of cockpit security and emergency procedures aboard commercial aircraft, particularly during situations involving violence or attempts to interfere with flight operations.
For Machchhar, however, the focus remains on the passengers he was responsible for protecting.
Still recovering from his injuries, the captain said his decision to keep fighting despite being seriously wounded was guided by the knowledge that hundreds of lives depended on the aircraft reaching the ground safely.
His account has since turned the incident into a story of survival, professional responsibility and the collective efforts of crew members and passengers during an unfolding emergency.
