Over 170 passengers on the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv escaped by a hair’s breadth after Indian pilot Smit Machchhar showed extraordinary courage and managed to fight off his co-pilot who stabbed him and, according to Israeli officials, intended to crash the plane.
Passengers on the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv were saved because of Smit Machchhar’s bravery.
After the Germanwings incident, the two-in-cockpit rule was introduced to prevent such a scenario. Wednesday’s incident is not, however, the first time a pilot has deliberately tried to down an aircraft. Fearing termination from the company, an off-duty pilot, Auburn Calloway, boarded a FedEx cargo plane with weapons like a hammer and a spear hidden on his person and forced his way into the cockpit. he attacked three crew members (captain, first officer, and flight engineer) with a hammer, intending to crash the plane so his family could claim insurance money While airborne. Despite suffering severe head injuries, the other pilots fought him fiercely inside the cockpit, subdued him by performing dangerous aerial manoeuvres, and managed to execute a safe emergency landing despite their critical condition. This requires a cabin crew member to step into the cockpit whenever one pilot steps out.
Machchhar not only transmitted emergency signals from flight FZ 1073 but also managed to unlock the door of the cockpit, allowing passengers to come in and overpower his co-pilot. Several past attempts have succeeded, killing at least 500 people.
