Hero captain of hijacked Israel-bound flight says he 'was not going to let others die' as he speaks out for first time

The heroic FlyDubai captain, attacked by his copilot, has spoken about his determination to save the passengers onboard his aircraft.

Pilot Smit Machchhar was in charge of a flight from Dubai to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv when he was stabbed by his copilot while in mid-air, causing the plane to plummet dangerously.

Machchhar, an Indian national who's been branded a 'true hero' for his actions, has now spoken out about his determination not to let the aircraft's 174 passengers die, telling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 'I knew I was not going to let others die'.

Speaking to Modi via a video call shared on X, Machchhar said: "I was lying on the floor injured, but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside."

After Machchhar opened the cockpit door, passengers flooded into the cabin and overpowered the copilot, allowing crew members to regain control of the aircraft.

Machchhar was able to alert air traffic control to the attempted hijacking incident and land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia before being taken for medical treatment.

"Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die," he said.

Machchhar has since been praised for his life-saving actions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling him a 'true hero' while Modi said that he had made his country proud.

Donald Trump has also commented on the situation, telling White House reporters: "He was a hero to open the door. He was able to fall back and get the door open."

"[I] can tell what is happening to the plane even with my eyes closed."

In the moments following the attack, the FlyDubai aircraft had fallen 20,000 feet, signalling to passengers and crew that something had gone seriously wrong in the cockpit.

During his conversation with Prime Minister Modi, Machchhar spoke about the moment he realised the aircraft was descending, saying that he 'can tell what is happening to the plane even with my eyes closed.'

After landing in Saudi Arabia, Machchhar was treated at a hospital in Tabuk, before being airlifted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi. According to a recent report from the BBC, he is said to be in a stable condition.

What we know about the FlyDubai attack

An investigation into the attack is ongoing, with the identity and motive of Machchhar's copilot yet to be released to the public.

The man is believed to be an Omani national, according to reports from Israeli media. Netanyahu has since told the media that he believes the copilot was planning to crash the aircraft.