MUMBAI: Almost a year before he was injured in a mid-air confrontation aboard a flydubai flight, Captain Smit Machchhar had spoken about what happens when a passenger suffers a medical emergency in the air — and why having a doctor on board can make all the difference.“You’ll be lucky enough to have a doctor on board,” Machchhar said during a podcast, Bonafide Banter with Zalak Mehta, while discussing medical emergencies during flights.He also explained the role of cabin crew in such situations, saying: “When something goes wrong in the air, who is going to save your life? The crew can save your life.”
‘They can save your life’
In the podcast, Machchhar explained that cabin crew undergo rigorous training in safety and emergency procedures and are prepared to assist passengers during medical emergencies.He said having a doctor on board during a medical emergency was fortunate, but cabin crew were the people passengers relied on first. Their training includes first aid and checking vital signs, he said.“See, as a pilot what we can do is we can just get them professional help as soon as possible,” Machchhar said while recalling medical emergencies he had handled during flights.He also recalled a particularly challenging incident in which a pregnant passenger went into premature labour during a flight.
From podcast words to cockpit crisis
That interview, recorded almost a year before the flydubai incident, is now drawing attention for another reason.On Wednesday, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot while the aircraft was approaching Israel. The aircraft plunged thousands of feet before the situation in the cockpit was brought under control. Passengers and crew intervened, while Machchhar, despite being injured, was able to help unlock the cockpit door. The aircraft eventually landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.During the attack, the aircraft plummeted approximately 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. Passenger Almog Italie described massive turbulence as the aircraft dropped, stabilised and then dropped again.Flydubai said an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and that the aircraft was subsequently secured by on-duty crew members, who diverted and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia. The passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on another aircraft.
Israeli dentist treated injured Machchhar
As passengers rushed towards the cockpit, Shota Musayev, an Israeli dentist returning from China, stepped forward to treat Machchhar.Musayev told The Times of Israel that he ran towards the cockpit about 10 seconds after hearing screams. He found the captain in a serious condition, with heavy bleeding, particularly from his head.“I was the only doctor on the plane,” Musayev said, adding that he managed to stop the bleeding and stabilise Machchhar’s blood pressure.Musayev also said he helped bind the co-pilot’s limbs repeatedly to prevent him from breaking free during the ordeal.Another passenger, Yaniv Hayun, entered the cockpit and pulled the alleged attacker away from the controls. Hayun said the co-pilot was trying to damage the controls and disable the aircraft.Hayun then helped level the plane, saying he had picked up some understanding of aircraft controls from watching the television programme Mayday. He later returned to the cockpit after helping restrain the attacker.Other passengers also helped restrain the co-pilot. Assaf Rajwan sustained minor injuries during the struggle, while another passenger, Tzvika Manes, recalled hearing screams as the aircraft entered a steep dive. Passengers used corded headphones to secure the attacker.
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Machchhar is a Mumbai-born pilot who trained in Gurgaon before joining SpiceJet, where he served as a commander and line training captain. He joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain and has more than 9,750 flying hours, according to his LinkedIn profile.He has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience, primarily operating Boeing 737 aircraft. He spent about 11 years with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai.The incident has drawn praise from officials in India and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Machchhar for his courage after he was seriously injured during the mid-air attack, saying his actions helped protect passengers and avert a major tragedy.The Indian Embassy in France said Machchhar fought back after being stabbed, opened the cockpit door and helped passengers and crew subdue the attacker. Israel’s foreign ministry also praised him, saying he managed to unlock the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.
