An old conversation involving Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has resurfaced following the dramatic Flydubai flight incident in which he was stabbed by his co-pilot while the aircraft was in the air.
Machchhar, 39, was the first officer aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Israel on September 30 with 174 passengers on board. According to reports cited by Hindustan Times and Reuters, an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar before attempting to crash the aircraft.
Despite sustaining serious injuries, Machchhar managed to activate the cockpit-door release, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the co-pilot. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
‘Who is going to save you?’
Against the backdrop of the incident, comments Machchhar made during an appearance on the Bona-Fide Banter podcast last year have drawn renewed attention.
During the conversation, Machchhar discussed the importance of cabin crew and their extensive training in handling emergencies.
He explained that cabin crew members undergo rigorous training covering safety procedures, emergency response and first aid.
“When we are up there and something happens, who is going to save you?” Machchhar asked during the discussion. He added that passengers would be fortunate to have a doctor on board, while trained crew members could provide critical assistance during an emergency.
Those remarks have taken on particular significance following the events aboard FZ1073.
Doctor helped stabilise injured pilot
Machchhar did, in fact, have a doctor among the passengers when the emergency unfolded.
Israeli dentist Dr Shota Musayev told The Times of Israel that he rushed towards the cockpit after hearing screams. He found Machchhar lying on the floor with heavy bleeding, particularly from his head.
Musayev said he was the only doctor aboard the aircraft and managed to stop Machchhar’s bleeding and stabilise his blood pressure before the plane landed.
He also recalled how several passengers and crew members helped avert what he described as a situation that came close to becoming a disaster.
The incident has since drawn widespread attention to the role of trained aviation personnel and passengers in responding to emergencies during flights.
