The flydubai hero who thwarted an alleged sabotage attempt by his co-pilot during a mid-air cockpit clash has been identified as Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian aviator.
The confrontation sparked brief hijacking fears earlier today but it was soon ruled out, with some fellow pilots taking over the cockpit and securing a safe landing to a diverted location in Saudi Arabia. Stabbed during the clash, he was left bloodied and struggling to speak, as visuals showed passengers praising him as a hero. Who is Captain Machchhar?
Captain Machchhar fought off the co-pilot who allegedly tried to sabotage the plane’s systems, saving the lives of as many as 180 passengers on board the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen, had been working with flydubai, a low-cost carrier owned by the Emirati government, for four years. He had worked for SpiceJet for 10 years prior to that. Captain Machchhar joined SpiceJet in 2011.
