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A teacher from Gurukul School of Art paints a portrait honoring Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with FlyDubai, in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
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MUMBAI, India (AP) — An Indian airline captain who was at the controls of a FlyDubai flight …
An Indian pilot hailed as a hero said he fought for his life after his co-pilot stabbed him and the FlyDubai flight began a steep descent. Capt. Smit Machchhar, who is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital after being seriously injured in Wednesday’s attack, said he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker. The flight, carrying 182 people, was diverted to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. Israeli authorities said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested. Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call that he realized he had to get back on his feet to save the passengers.
