Pilot lauded after subduing co-pilot during Flydubai flight

Capt. Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, successfully averted a potential disaster after his co-pilot attacked him on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel. Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and overpower the attacker. The pilot, who received a call from India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stated he fought back to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

The flight departed from Dubai and landed safely in Saudi Arabia, with all passengers and crew surviving the incident. Machchhar has been widely praised as a hero for his decisive actions during the mid-air emergency.

Editor's note: The draft accurately captures the key details of the incident and the pilot's reaction.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: BBC World