US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau on Friday praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar of flydubai flight FZ1073 and other passengers who overpowered the co-pilot as he allegedly tried to crash the plane.
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the deputy Prime Minister of UAE, called on Machchhar on Saturday and praised the flydubai pilot’s “courage and responsibility”. Al Maktoum said Machchhar had “embodied high degrees of courage”, and conveyed the UAE leadership’s “appreciation” to the Indian pilot. “We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life,” Al Maktoum said in a post on X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed Machchhar for averting a “9/11-type tragedy” by foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash the plane. Machchhar said he could feel the aircraft going down even after he collapsed from his injuries. Seriously wounded and fighting for his life, Machchhar said his years of flying experience told him that the aircraft was in a dangerous descent. He then made “one last push” to reach and open the cockpit door, despite continuing to be hit.
He also spoke to Machchhar over video call on Friday where he recalled the terrifying moments of the mid-air crisis.
