Indian flydubai captain hailed as hero for saving 174 lives despite being stabbed by co-pilot

Smit Machchhar, the flydubai pilot who was stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash the plane, has been hailed as a hero by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking to X, Modi praised Machchhar’s “immense courage and unwavering resolve” for helping save 174 lives on the Tel Aviv-bound flight.

While bleeding on the cockpit floor, Machchhar had managed to unlock the door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot. Two other flydubai pilots on board then took control and landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital in Tabuk. #flydubai

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