Courageous Actions in the Sky: How Captain Smit Machchhar Prevented a Tragedy
Captain Smit Machchhar of India was one of those who helped to save 174 people on the board of flydubai Flight 1073 with a show of remarkable courage and coolness under pressure.
As the co-pilot went into a berserk rage, attacked the captain, stabbed him, and tried to take control of the plane to make it crash during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the plane dropped to 14,000 feet in just about 30 seconds.
Notwithstanding his injuries, Captain Machchhar fought back, radioed for distress, and opened the cockpit door. This enabled the crew and several passengers to storm into the cockpit and restrain the attacker.
Off-duty flydubai pilots, who were passengers, then took control of the aircraft and performed a successful emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.