Tel Aviv: Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy has praised the bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and passengers who intervened during a violent cockpit incident aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, saying the incident could have resulted in a mass-casualty disaster.
Speaking about the incident, Levy said Israel believes the episode was an attempted terror attack and could have become “Israel’s 9/11” had the passengers and crew not intervened.
The Flydubai flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, allegedly stabbed Captain Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently went into a sharp descent before passengers and additional pilots intervened. It was eventually diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar Opened Cockpit Door During Attack
According to Levy’s account, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite being injured, allowing passengers to enter and help restrain the attacker.
Passengers intervened inside the cockpit as the aircraft was in distress. An off-duty pilot travelling on the flight also helped take control of the aircraft, which was eventually brought to safety.
Levy said several possible scenarios could have unfolded had the attacker gained full control of the aircraft, including forcing it to land in a hostile country or crashing it after entering Israeli airspace.
He also referred to Israel’s history of aviation-related terrorist attacks and said the country was closely following the investigation. The attacker remains in the custody of Saudi authorities, while investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Israeli Ambassador Praises Indian Pilot and Passengers
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, also praised Captain Machchhar and the passengers who intervened.
Azar said the combined actions of the Indian captain, crew members and passengers helped save the people aboard the aircraft. He said Machchhar was able to open the cockpit door after being stabbed, enabling passengers to enter and neutralise the attacker.
The ambassador said the incident could have resulted in another 9/11-style tragedy had the attacker succeeded in taking control of the flight.
The aircraft was carrying 174 people, according to current reports, and landed safely in Tabuk after the emergency. Captain Machchhar was taken to hospital for treatment and has been reported to be in stable condition.
Israel Calls for Investigation and Aviation Security Review
Azar said the incident occurred at a sensitive time in the Middle East and stressed the importance of intelligence and security cooperation between countries in the region.
He said information from the investigation, including evidence from the aircraft’s black box, would be important in understanding what happened and preventing similar incidents in the future.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said the attacker was being investigated in Saudi Arabia and that Israel would follow the investigation. The circumstances and motive behind the cockpit attack remain under investigation.
The incident has also prompted attention to cockpit-security procedures and emergency protocols. Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.
Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an experienced Indian commercial pilot with more than 13 years of aviation experience. Before joining Flydubai, he spent around 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a Line Training Captain. Reports have said he has around 9,750 hours of flying experience, primarily on Boeing 737 aircraft.
Despite suffering injuries during the cockpit confrontation, Machchhar’s actions in opening the cockpit door allowed passengers and crew to intervene. He is currently receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.