10/03/2026
PILOT SPEAKS OUT AFTER BEING STABBED MULTIPLE TIMES BY CO-PILOT
Captain Smit Machchhar is now describing what happened inside the cockpit after he was stabbed multiple times by his co-pilot during Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Smit said he suffered numerous wounds and ended up on the cockpit floor as the aircraft went into a terrifying descent. According to Reuters, the plane dropped nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Despite his injuries, Smit realized he needed to get the cockpit door open. He managed to get back up and described making āone last pushā to open it, allowing others to enter the cockpit and help overpower the co-pilot. Other pilots aboard were then able to take control and safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Speaking from his hospital bed during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Smit explained what kept him going:
āI couldnāt let the others die.ā
Smit remains hospitalized and recovering. Authorities are still investigating why the co-pilot attacked him and what was used during the stabbing.
Considering how badly he was injured, what do you think of Smit managing to get that cockpit door open? What a legend.