I opened cockpit door of plane while being attacked, Indian pilot tells Modi

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar has described how he helped save an Israel-bound Flydubai flight after being stabbed by another pilot on board. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he opened the cockpit door while injured because the aircraft was dropping rapidly and he wanted passengers and crew to help regain control.

According to the BBC, the incident happened on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the attack. The plane reportedly descended more than 17,000 feet about two hours into the journey on Wednesday before passengers and crew overpowered the assailant and landed safely. Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both praised Machchhar’s actions, with the Indian leader saying his quick decisions helped save lives.

The BBC says Machchhar was first treated in Tabuk in north-west Saudi Arabia and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he was reported to be in stable condition. India’s embassy in the UAE said he was recovering well. The case has drawn attention to in-flight security and emergency response on commercial aircraft, though the report does not provide broader details on the motive for the attack or any further legal proceedings.