Indian pilot recalls surviving FlyDubai cockpit attack

An Indian airline captain who helped stop an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight has described the attack from an Abu Dhabi hospital, saying he fought to stay conscious after being stabbed by his copilot. Captain Smit Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a televised video call that he knew he had to get back on his feet so passengers could be protected. He said he was badly wounded, had fallen down, and believed people on board could die if he did not act. The incident took place Wednesday on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 182 people. After the attack, the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where passengers helped restrain the attacker after Machchhar opened the cockpit door. Israeli authorities said the suspect, an Omani national, was arrested and is being questioned. Israel has also begun arranging flights to bring stranded passengers home.