Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for further treatment after he was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, who reportedly attempted to crash the flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
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Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot while fighting him in the cockpit, but fought back and was severely injured. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with all the passengers safe.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft subsequently diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The captain was taken to a hospital in Tabuk.
An Israeli official told the Associated Press that a fight broke out between the pilots and that one of them was armed with a axe. Reuters reported that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew members entered the cockpit.
Meanwhile, a video showing Machchhar receiving first aid after the aircraft landed in Tabuk is circulating on social media. In the footage, Machchhar can be seen being carried out of the aircraft on a stretcher, with several visible wounds on his body.
