"A True Hero" Bleeding and Wounded, Indian Captain Opens Cockpit Door and Saves 174 Lives

Tel Aviv/Dubai, Sept 30: An Indian pilot has been hailed as a hero after he fought back against an alleged attack in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight, helping passengers and crew stop the attacker and bring the aircraft down safely in Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai FZ1073 sends emergency alert
Flydubai flight FZ1073, bound for Tel Aviv, sent out an emergency alert shortly after taking off from Dubai on Wednesday morning. Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX 8. It later landed at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, and Flydubai said all passengers were safe.

Indian pilot stabbed in cockpit
According to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the co-pilot stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in an attempt to take control of the plane. Despite serious injuries, the captain resisted and managed to open the cockpit door, the Israeli leader said. This let passengers and crew in to overpower the attacker, averting what Netanyahu described as a “catastrophic mid-air disaster.”

Passengers seated near the front of the cabin rushed to the flight deck. Along with other crew travelling on the flight, they dragged the co-pilot out and restrained him. He was arrested after the aircraft landed, Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu praises Indian pilot
Netanyahu saluted the captain's "extraordinary bravery" in a post on X and called him a "true hero." He said Machchhar saved 174 lives, including Israeli citizens and passengers of other nationalities, and wished him a speedy and full recovery.

https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2105367389428646054

Passengers flown to Tel Aviv
Flydubai later operated a rescue flight carrying the passengers from Tabuk to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, where Netanyahu met them. 

What is not yet known: 

The co-pilot's identity and motive, and the captain's current medical condition, have not been made public. Some reports put the number on board at around 180, which may include crew. Much of the account so far comes from Israeli officials, and Flydubai and investigators have yet to release a detailed statement.