# Flydubai pilot speaks for first time

> Indian pilot who was stabbed by copilot during flight shares his ordeal with Modi.
- Title: Flydubai pilot speaks for first time · Dw | Shortify
- Summary: Indian pilot who was stabbed by copilot during flight shares his ordeal with Modi. Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar described his near-death experience after…
- Keywords: smit machchhar, flydubai, narendra modi, u.a.e, tel aviv, tabuk, saudi arabia, israel, omani national, terrorist act, co-pilot, pilot
- Source: Dw — https://dw.com/en/flydubai-hero-pilot-speaks-for-first-time/a-79524500?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: smit machchhar, flydubai, narendra modi, u.a.e, tel aviv, tabuk, saudi arabia, israel, omani national, terrorist act, co-pilot, pilot
## Pilot shares ordeal
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar described his near-death experience after being stabbed by his copilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

> I had so many wounds. I had fallen down
## Pilot hospitalized in Abu Dhabi
Captain Smit Machchhar is currently hospitalized in Abu Dhabi after being seriously wounded.
## Pilot's life threat
Machchhar said he was fighting for his life and realized passengers would lose their lives if he didn't get up.

> I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives.
## Flight diverted to Saudi Arabia
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with 180 Israeli passengers onboard.
## UAE labels incident terrorist act
A senior UAE official labeled the incident a terrorist attack, with Israel using similar terms.
## Suspect arrested in Saudi Arabia
The suspected Omani national attacker was arrested in Saudi Arabia with unclear motive, described as having undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
## Key takeaway

Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar described his near-death experience after being stabbed by his copilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia.