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FlyDubai captain shares how "one last push" kept the plane in the air after he was stabbed
Captain Smit Machchhar was already seriously wounded when he realized the FlyDubai aircraft was plunging toward the ground.
Stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Machchhar said he was lying on the cockpit floor when he felt the plane begin to descend rapidly.
“I could feel that the aircraft was going down,” Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an emotional video call from his hospital bed. “I knew exactly that this would be the last push.”
Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to get back up and open the cockpit door — a move that allowed passengers to rush inside and help subdue the attacker.
A Flight Turns Into a Fight for Survival
The incident happened Wednesday, Sept. 30, aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people aboard.
According to authorities and reports, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar in the cockpit and attempted to take control of the Boeing 737. The aircraft plunged thousands of feet during the struggle before control was eventually restored.
Machchhar said he understood what was happening even while injured.
“I have been flying planes for 17 years and serving as a captain for the last 11 years,” he told Modi. “I can sense exactly what is happening with the aircraft even with my eyes closed.”
Passengers Rushed Into the Cockpit
Opening the cockpit door changed everything.
Once Machchhar managed to push it open, several passengers entered the cockpit and helped overpower the co-pilot. Two off-duty pilots who were also aboard the flight subsequently helped take control of the aircraft.
The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
No passengers were seriously injured, although Machchhar and the co-pilot were both hospitalized.
“I Can't Let Anyone Die”
During his conversation with Modi, Machchhar became emotional as he described the decision he made while fighting for his own life.
“I was trying to save myself,” he said, “but I also knew I can't let anyone die.”
The captain also spoke about relying on his faith during the terrifying moments. He said he repeated Hindu prayers while lying injured in the cockpit and believed that God would help him through the ordeal.
At one point during the conversation, Machchhar apologized for becoming emotional.
He told Modi that he had never really felt proud of himself before — but that changed after the attack.
Investigation Into the Co-Pilot Continues
Authorities are still investigating what led to the cockpit attack and what motivated the co-pilot.
The attacker has been identified by officials as an Omani citizen, but his name has not been publicly released by CBS News. Investigators in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia are examining the incident, including whether it was an attempted hijacking or had a broader motive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radicalization, but investigators have not publicly established a motive or released evidence confirming those claims.
A Captain's Final Push
For Machchhar, the critical moment came down to a single decision.
Bleeding and struggling to remain conscious, he forced himself toward the cockpit door because he knew the aircraft was descending.
That “last push” gave passengers and other crew members the opportunity to intervene — and helped bring 174 people safely to the ground.
“I was fighting for my life,” Machchhar told Modi.
But he was also fighting for everyone else's.
Source: CBS Mornings
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