Flydubai pilot recounts cockpit attack in call with India's PM Modi

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, has described being attacked by his co-pilot in the cockpit, according to multiple outlets reporting on a video call he held with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Machchhar said he was left injured and bleeding on the floor of the flight deck as the plane, carrying more than 170 people, began plunging, according to Arab News and other outlets.

Machchhar told Modi he pushed himself to act despite his injuries. "I had so many injuries, but I told myself I have to get up and act. At the time, I pushed myself to go for one last push to open the cockpit door," he said, according to Arab News. Several outlets, including CNN, the Associated Press, The Guardian and Newsmax, quoted him saying, "I was fighting for my life." France 24 and CNA reported he told Modi, "I could not let all those people die." The Times of India reported he told Modi, "I had one chance," describing how he escaped the cockpit.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the co-pilot who attacked Machchhar was Omani, and said the pilot had opened the cockpit door while on the floor of the plane and actively being attacked. BBC News and National Post reported that Machchhar was stabbed during the incident on the Israel-bound flight, and that the plane made an emergency landing. Fox News reported that Modi praised Machchhar, saying the pilot showed the world "the highest form of courage" and that India was saluting him for his actions. The Hindu reported that Modi lauded Machchhar and that the pilot said he used every bit of energy to save the plane.

The New York Post, describing Machchhar as a "hero plumber," reported that he had a message for former U.S. President Donald Trump, quoting him as saying, "Tell Trump that I love him." This detail appeared only in that outlet's coverage. The Washington Post published a piece examining Machchhar's background, asking "Who is the Indian pilot who fought off his cockpit attacker?" The South China Morning Post reported a wave of national pride in India following the incident, describing Machchhar as being hailed an "absolute hero," while The Japan Times and National Post also reported he was being called a hero after the cockpit struggle.

How the coverage differed

Outlets across the spectrum converged heavily on Machchhar's own words, with CBS News, NBC News, the Associated Press, CNN, The Guardian, Newsmax and The Hindu all centering their coverage on the pilot's account to Modi and the quote "I was fighting for my life" or close variants. NBC News and CNA both used the phrasing "couldn't let all of them die"/"could not let all those people die" in their headlines, a framing echoed by France 24 in the center category.

Center-leaning outlets, particularly Arab News, France 24 and BBC News, provided the most procedural detail, including the flight number FZ1073, the route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, and the sequence of Machchhar lying injured before pushing the cockpit door open. BBC News and National Post, on the right, specifically reported that Machchhar was stabbed, a detail not emphasized across all outlets. The Jerusalem Post was alone in identifying the attacking co-pilot's nationality as Omani.

Right-leaning outlets showed the widest range of framing: Fox News focused on Modi's praise of Machchhar's courage, while the New York Post took a distinct human-interest angle, labeling him a "hero plumber" and reporting his personal message to Donald Trump, a single-source claim not corroborated elsewhere. The Epoch Times and Breitbart both emphasized the first-person, on-camera nature of the interview with Modi. Left-leaning outlets, including The Washington Post, were more likely to explore Machchhar's identity and background, while center outlets like South China Morning Post and The Japan Times emphasized the broader public reaction in India describing him as a hero.

What is still unclear

The supplied material does not specify the date of the attack beyond references to

Wednesday

and leaves unclear the co-pilot's motive, full identity, or current status beyond The Jerusalem Post's single-source identification of him as Omani. It is also not clear from the sources what injuries Machchhar sustained beyond being stabbed and bleeding, or what medical treatment he has since received.