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Indian Pilot Hailed Hero After Foiling Plane Attack
30 Sep
Summary
- Indian pilot fought attacker to prevent mid-air disaster.
- Flight diverted to Tabuk with 174 passengers onboard.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu lauded the pilot's extraordinary bravery.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with over 13 years of flying experience, is being celebrated for his heroic actions aboard a Flydubai flight. The flight, carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, transmitted emergency signals and made a sharp descent before diverting to Tabuk.
Reports indicate the co-pilot was the aggressor, and Captain Machchhar fought to prevent the aircraft from crashing. Israeli passengers reportedly assisted in subduing the co-pilot. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Machchhar's extraordinary bravery, stating he saved all 174 lives on board.
Machchhar, originally from Mumbai, has accumulated over 9,500 flight hours during his career, including extensive time as a Line Training Captain with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai in June 2022. He is currently recovering from his injuries.
