Indian Flydubai flight captain Smit Machhar, who was stabbed inside the cockpit, recounted the confrontation, confirming that despite his injuries, he managed to open the door from the inside and scream for help.

In his conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machhar said he was fighting for his life, adding: “At that moment, I realized I had to move, because I was already injured and had many wounds. I had to do something.”

He described the critical moments, saying: “I told myself: If I don’t get up… while I was lying on the ground, I felt the plane descending. The door was close to me. Despite the blows I received, I managed to open it.”

Machhar emphasized that preventing the disaster was not an individual effort, saying: “Everyone contributed equally. What I did was to save my life, but I also knew that I could not let others die.”

He expressed confidence in a full recovery, stating that he does not view his injuries as injuries, as that could make rehabilitation harder, but rather sees it as a slow journey, step by step, affirming that recovery will take time but will lead him to complete healing soon.

An unforgettable conversation with Captain Smit, filled with pride and emotions. pic.twitter.com/CCf46PKOWR

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 2, 2026