Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, is hailed as a hero after he bravely opened a cockpit door to stop a dangerous forced descent.
During a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Machchhar was on the ground, but his co‑pilot attacked him. The plane was rapidly descending when Machchhar realized it was sinking.
Despite being injured, he pushed through to manually open the cockpit hatch. Passengers who entered also helped stabilize the aircraft.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the captain’s “courage, patience and quick decision‑making” in a video call, while Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “true hero.”
Machchhar was first taken to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where the Indian embassy says he is recovering well.
His story is a reminder of how teamwork and quick thinking can save lives even in the most frightening situations.
