‘He was praying, then came big blow to my head’: Smit Machchhar recalls flydubai horror

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, praising him as a “hero” of Israel, India and the entire world for helping save an Israel-bound flydubai flight after he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot.

Machchhar, 38, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE after being seriously injured during the incident on Wednesday. During the emotional phone conversation, Netanyahu also invited Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a flame at an Israeli Independence Day ceremony.

Also Read: Mystery pilots who saved FlyDubai flight remain unidentified three days after mid-air attack


“It's our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It's usually reserved for Israeli citizens, but I think here in this case, all the citizens of Israel will embrace you. They do now, and they will then too. So we hope to see you very soon in Israel,” Netanyahu told Machchhar.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Israel said on X: “You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world. I invite Prime Minister @NarendraModi and you to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day.”

“During the emotional conversation that took place this evening, the Prime Minister asked Captain Machchhar how it all started, and Machchhar revealed new details about the terrifying moments in the cockpit,” the post said.

What happened inside the cockpit

Machchhar was piloting flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday when he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe, an emergency tool typically kept in the cockpit.

The attack seriously injured Machchhar as the aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and began a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet.

Speaking to Netanyahu, Machchhar described how the incident began. He said the co-pilot had wanted to pray before the attack.

“...while he was praying, out of respect, I was just looking at the front and not at the back, and suddenly, after, I would say about four-five minutes, there was a big blow to the back of my head.

Also Read: A fight in the cockpit, a plunge from 33,000 feet: Inside the FlyDubai mid-air crisis

“My first thought was that there was catastrophic damage to the aircraft and something was not right. But then after that, the blows kept coming one after the other, and that's when I realised that it's not the aircraft, it's the other guy who was in the cockpit with me,” Machchhar said.

The aircraft eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the extreme descent damaged the plane, including tearing away part of its rudder.

‘You saved so many souls’

Netanyahu praised Machchhar for remaining composed during the attack and managing to help prevent a disaster.

“I am amazed at your courage and at your coolness of judgment under impossible conditions,” Netanyahu told him.

“You saved so many souls. I think you saved something bigger. You saved the spirit of the world...It's something that is being justly hailed around the world. You're a hero of Israel. You're a hero of India. You're a hero of the entire world,” he said.

“You know, I guess it's a twist of fate, and a twist of faith, and what you did is remarkable. I heard, of course, from the Israeli passengers what transpired after that, and you're a great hero, and you were accompanied by heroes, and you saved the day,” Netanyahu said.

The co-pilot who allegedly attacked Machchhar has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Machchhar initially received treatment in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, before being shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care.