The Indian pilot of the Flydubai plane who was attacked by his co-pilot has said he fought for his life but was determined not to let others die.
Smit Machchhar said he was on the ground in the cockpit and still being attacked when he realised the plane was sinking and he had to do something.
“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” he said in a video call to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he added.
The plane bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two and a half hours into its journey on Wednesday, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and retook control to land safely.
It was forced to divert to Tabuk, a city in north-western Saudi Arabia.
The captain, who has also been hailed as a “true hero” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was taken to hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi where he is reported to be in a stable condition.
Machchhar said he had been flying planes for 17 years and “can tell what is happening to the plane even with my eyes closed”.
Modi told the captain that “his courage, patience and quick decision-making saved the lives of so many people” and the whole country was proud of him.
The Indian embassy in the UAE on Thursday said Machchhar was “in good health and recovering well”. Ambassador Deepak Mittal said he was “proud of Capt Smit for his bravery” and “very reassured” to meet him.
“I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,” Machchhar said.
“I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.”
