‘You can’t die like this’: Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar recalls cockpit assault

New Delhi: Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has recalled the fear and confusion he experienced during an assault that left him drifting in and out of consciousness. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, he described a moment when he feared he might not survive and urged himself to act. Machchhar said he also had the safety of passengers on his mind as he struggled to remain conscious. His account described the impact of the attack, the panic that followed and how a fellow pilot took over the aircraft’s controls.

A fight for survival

Asked whether he thought he might die during the ordeal, Machchhar said he had faced that fear. “Yes, there was a moment when I realised (that),” he said, recalling how he told himself, “Smit, do something, you can’t die like this.”

“I’m not saying I accepted my death. I was like, do something, otherwise…” he added. His response conveyed his determination to survive despite the injuries and uncertainty he faced.

Blow left him struggling

Machchhar said the assault began while he carried out his duties. He recalled a powerful impact to his head that affected his ability to stay conscious. “I was doing my job, there was a hard hit on my head. I felt it was something very strong hit. I was in and out of consciousness,” he said.

He also remembered the panic after the door opened. At that point, he recalled being face down as people screamed around him. “When the door was open, it was a completely different scene. I remember being face down, and of course, the panic which was there, the screaming which was there,” he recalled.

Colleague took the controls

The captain also recalled a fellow pilot who began praying during the emergency. Machchhar said he chose not to look towards him because he wanted to respect that moment. He then praised another colleague for taking over the controls and helping bring the situation under control.

“The other thing, how my other colleague took over the controls and saved the day again, is something that I’ll keep with me till I die,” he said. For Machchhar, that intervention remains a lasting memory alongside the fear and confusion of the assault.