Indian Pilot Injured as Co-Pilot Allegedly Attempts to Crash Flydubai Flight

An Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, was injured after the co-pilot of a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked him and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers plunged nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds during the incident.

Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot. Two off-duty flydubai pilots on board then helped regain control of the aircraft, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for helping save the passengers, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed his courage. The co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, was arrested and investigations into the incident are underway.