Washington DC: US President Donald Trump praised the India-origin Flydubai pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, as a “hero” for overpowering a knife-wielding
co-pilot, opening the cockpit door and seeking help to prevent an alleged attempt to crash the plane. Trump made this remark while interacting with reporters at the Oval Office. The US President said that he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told him that a plumber, who had never flown an aircraft, made a dramatic intervention to steady the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight which landed in Saudi Arabia. The pilot who staved off the attempt to crash the aircraft has been identified as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and hailed a "hero" by Netanyahu and many others. "The pilot was in very bad shape; I guess he still is in very bad shape, but he had the sense to, amazing, to, in a way he was a hero," Trump said, recalling his conversation with Netanyahu. The US President said the pilot opened the door and was able to fall back, get the door open, and scream for help. "It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job, and he stabbed the pilot," the US President said. Trump then described what he called an "amazing" intervention by an Israeli passenger whom he identified as a plumber. Trump said a passenger, who had never flown an aircraft, entered the cockpit, pulled the co-pilot out of his seat and threw him backwards, where other passengers helped restrain him. According to Trump, the passenger later said he had learned some basic concepts about flying from watching the television program Air Disasters. "He said he watches it a lot, and he learned from watching that show sort of how to fly," Trump said. The US President stated additional pilots and security personnel, who had been toward the rear of the aircraft, subsequently reached the cockpit and took control. "I think it's the most amazing story," he said. However, Trump said that he was merely recounting an account he had received rather than independently confirmed facts." Now this is the story that I heard. I don't know if it's true, but that's the story that I got from Bibi and from a couple of probably early (sources)," he said.
What Happened On The Israel-Bound Flydubai Flight:
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when a violent confrontation inside the cockpit triggered a significant loss of altitude. The flight, carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, was scheduled to be a routine journey lasting around three hours and 15 minutes.
With over two hours after departure, the flight started experiencing a dramatic drop in altitude, losing more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to the supplied flight data.An Israeli assessment said an Omani co-pilot was suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft.
Captain Machchhar fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit. The flight transmitted squawk 7500, the code used to indicate a hijacking. Israeli authorities scrambled two Air Force fighter jets and began urgent consultations as they assessed the situation aboard the aircraft.
Passenger testimony later described a man armed with a knife allegedly attacking one of the pilots. One passenger said several people entered the cockpit and pulled the attacker away. The aircraft was then diverted to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing under fighter escort.
It then landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, ending the immediate danger. Machchhar is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. A replacement Flydubai aircraft later transported most of the stranded passengers to Israel.
(With inputs from PTI)
