‘He tried to crash the plane:’ New video shows captain Smit Machchhar bloodied after chaos on flydubai flight | Today’s news
A new video surfaced on social media on Friday showing chaotic scenes inside and outside the cockpit of a flydubai plane. A clip shot on a phone camera from a seat near the cockpit showed people shouting in English and Hebrew.
In a video clip shared by Channel 12 news, one person was heard saying, “he was trying to crash the plane,” referring to the Omani co-pilot who stabbed the Indian captain of the plane.
Others shout “pull him out” toward the cockpit and order the people in the cabin to “sit down,” the Times of Israel reported.
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After a pause in the recording, repeated calls to the doctor can be heard. Dr. Shota Musayev, an Israeli dentist, then rushed to the front of the plane to provide medical treatment, although it was not clear to whom, the report added.
As the shouts of “sit down” continue, the man reportedly asked in Hebrew if there was another pilot on the flight, to which someone responded in the affirmative.
The footage then cuts to a bloodied Captain Smit Machchhar lying on the ground outside the cockpit.
The injured captain filmed himself explaining that he could no longer shake hands after the co-pilot ‘hit me so many times’; the footage also shows passengers and crew watching the bound assailant.
What happened on the flydubai plane
The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened on board FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after takeoff from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The plane was carrying 174 people to Tel Aviv, Israel on Wednesday.
The co-pilot reportedly tried to take control of the plane.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing the passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft nosedived in front of Yaniv Hayun, a plumber who helped attack the cockpit to subdue the co-pilot, stabilizing him, allowing the second pair of flydubai pilots on board to take control of the aircraft and land it.
Read also | PM Modi hails Captain Smit Machchhar’s courage in Flydubai hijacking
The plane then diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The captain was taken to a hospital in Tabuk.
Captain Machchhar, who is currently hospitalized in an Abu Dhabi hospital for advanced medical treatment after sustaining stab injuries, is now out of danger and recovering, the Indian ambassador to the UAE confirmed.
According to the Associated Press, Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities are investigating the incident, with the United States and Oman assisting in the search for a motive.
Investigators have not publicly identified the object that was used to stab the plane’s captain or said whether it was carried on the plane or came from inside the plane.
“Omani co-pilot should have crashed plane”
Michal Maayan, a spokesman for Israel’s foreign ministry, said on Thursday that initial assessments by Israeli authorities indicated that the co-pilot aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 allegedly intended to crash the plane.
The incident was thwarted at the last minute by the extraordinary bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, Maayan said.
“What we know at this stage is deeply disturbing. The initial assessment is that the co-pilot – an Omani co-pilot – allegedly intended to crash the plane with all 174 passengers on board, and we are talking about women and children as well,” Maayan told ANI.
Read also | Flydubai horror: Machchhar captain stabbed, flight diverted to Saudi Arabia — Timeline
“This was a serious terrorist incident and it was thwarted at the last minute. Fortunately, a bigger disaster was averted. I can also share that the investigation is still ongoing, so we don’t have any definitive answers, but we are very committed to getting to the bottom of this and understanding what really happened.”
“Captain Smith Machar was extraordinary”
Maayan expressed deep gratitude on behalf of Israel to Captain Machchhar and appreciated the Indian pilot’s courage in unlocking the cockpit door despite sustaining serious injuries during the attack.
“It is amazing for us to witness his bravery. Captain Smith Machar was extraordinary and even after suffering several stab wounds, he found the strength and determination to open the cockpit door and prevent a much bigger disaster,” said Maayan.
“So many people in Israel are really praying for his speedy recovery. I’ve actually seen some reports that he’s getting better in the hospital. You can see it from all sides – from our prime minister to your prime minister – everyone in Israel is praying and in total respect for Captain Smith, and also thankful that he prevented a terrible thing from happening. He saved 174 lives and I think Maayan will never be forgotten.”
“Islamist Radical Indoctrination”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the co-pilot behind an apparent attack on a flight to Israel had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, as the United Arab Emirates said it was investigating a possible terror link.
“We know he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu told the “Fox & Friends” TV show without elaborating, adding that the co-pilot had been questioned.
The Israeli prime minister said that “the attacker was shouting at the flight crew: ‘Kill me, kill me,’ making it clear that he was suicidal.”
Israeli officials called the incident an “attempted terrorist attack,” although in an earlier interview with CBS News, Netanyahu did not rule out the possibility that mental health was to blame.
Netanyahu told Fox News that a disaster similar to the September 11, 2001 attacks “with bodies scattered in the desert” had been averted.
