‘I was fighting for my life': Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack

The useful part

FlyDubai flight described Friday how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent. Smit Machchhar, recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised video call that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save his passengers. At one point, I realized that if I didn't get up … then passengers would lose their lives," he told Modi.

How it works

• He has been hailed as a hero, with world leaders saying he helped avert a disaster.
• FlyDubai said Wednesday that the jet was secured by on-duty crew members "who diverted and landed the aircraft safely." A regional official said the crew members were pilots in training.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia and was undergoing interrogation there.

Details worth keeping

The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.