Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar recalls fearing for his life during an assault, describing the panic and how his colleague took over the controls.
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has spoken about the terrifying moments he experienced during an assault, revealing how he briefly feared for his life while trying to protect himself and the passengers.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia, Machchhar recalled being hit hard on the head, slipping in and out of consciousness and realising that he needed to act if he wanted to survive.
Describing the experience, the captain said his survival instinct took over as he struggled to process what was happening. He also spoke about a fellow pilot who began praying during the ordeal and another colleague whose intervention in the cockpit helped save the day.
‘I Realised I Wouldn’t Survive’
Recounting the moment he feared he might not make it, Machchhar said he knew he could not remain passive and had to do something to change the situation.
“أدركت للحظة أنني لن أنجو”.. قائد طائرة فلاي دبي يروي لأول مرة حصرياً لسكاي نيوز عربية لحظات مؤثرة عاشها عقب الاعتداء عليه
المقابلة كاملة:
21:00 بتوقيت أبوظبي
17:00 بتوقيت غرينتشملاحظة: تعكس التصريحات الواردة في هذه المقابلة ما يتذكره الضيف من أحداث، وفقا لتجربته الشخصية وإدراكه لها وقت وقوعها.
— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) October 17, 2026
“Yes, there was a moment when I realised. I told myself to do something. I’m not saying I accepted my death. It was like, do something, otherwise…” he said during the interview.
The captain explained that his instinct to survive was not just about himself but also about the passengers on board. He said the seriousness of the situation became clear when he realised that immediate action was needed.
‘I Was In And Out Of Consciousness’
Machchhar recalled being struck hard on the head during the assault. He said the impact felt extremely strong and left him drifting in and out of consciousness.
“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 recounted.
The captain also described the confusion and panic that followed when the door opened. He remembered being face down as people screamed and the situation around him unfolded in chaos.
“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 said.
Fellow Pilot Began Praying During The Ordeal
Machchhar also recalled the reaction of another pilot, who began praying during the incident. He said he chose not to look towards his colleague while he was praying, out of respect for the moment.
The captain’s account offered a glimpse into the different ways people responded to the frightening situation, as he tried to focus on his own responsibilities amid the unfolding crisis.