flydubai pilot recalls 'last push' to save 174 passengers as UAE labels cockpit attack a 'terrorist act'

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar spoke publicly for the first time on Friday, describing his desperate "last push" to unlock the cockpit door while severely injured to prevent flydubai Flight FZ1073 from crashing into the sea.

How did Captain Smit Machchhar prevent a mid-air disaster?

Speaking from his hospital bed during a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 17-year aviation veteran described how he maintained situational awareness despite suffering multiple knife wounds inflicted by his Omani co-pilot. Flightradar24 data indicated the Boeing 737 lost approximately 17,000 feet of altitude in under a minute over Jordan before crew and passengers managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the attacker.

"I had suffered so many injuries that I had collapsed. At that time, I could feel that the aircraft was going down," Captain Machchhar recalled. "I knew this was the last push, that the door was right there. I was being hit even then, but I just opened the door and everyone came in". The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement praising Machchhar, the flight crew, and intervening passengers for "decisive and swift intervention" that averted a major tragedy.

What are the latest diplomatic developments and repatriation updates?

The investigation into the incident has drawn intense international attention and triggered immediate diplomatic measures.

UAE Presidential Adviser Anwar Gargash formally described the incident as a “dangerous terrorist act,” praised Captain Machchhar’s actions, and called for heightened vigilance against regional extremism.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a potential “9/11-scale disaster” and said the co-pilot had undergone what he called “Islamist radical indoctrination.” Netanyahu also said Israeli security agencies were investigating how an Omani national, from a country without formal diplomatic relations with Israel, had been cleared to operate a flight bound for Tel Aviv.

Following flydubai’s suspension of services to Israel, Israeli carrier Arkia operated the first repatriation flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Friday. El Al said it remained prepared to operate special rescue flights once formal landing approvals were finalized by Emirati aviation authorities.

US President Donald Trump reiterated White House warnings that Tehran would be “hit very hard” if intelligence established a connection between Iranian state actors and the plot, as US naval carrier strike groups deploy to the region.

According to reporting by The Hindu and The Jerusalem Post, joint UAE-Saudi forensic teams are examining cockpit voice recordings and digital communications recovered from the aircraft.