1 hr ago
Trump Relays Unconfirmed Account of Flydubai Cockpit Heroism
Donald Trump told reporters about a frightening story on a flydubai airplane.
The story has not been independently confirmed.
The pilot, Smit Machchhar, was reportedly attacked with a knife by the co-pilot.
The pilot allegedly opened the cockpit door and called for help.
An Israeli passenger then reportedly entered the cockpit.
Trump said the passenger pulled the co-pilot away from the controls.
Other passengers and security personnel allegedly helped restrain the co-pilot.
Trump said the passenger had learned some basic flying ideas from a television show, but he also said he did not know whether the story was true.
Donald Trump recounted an unconfirmed account of a knife attack aboard a flydubai flight.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by the co-pilot and opened the cockpit door for help.
An Israeli passenger, described as a plumber, allegedly pulled the co-pilot from the controls.
The passenger reportedly said he learned basic flying concepts from watching “Air Disasters.”
Trump said the account came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other early sources.
- Who
- Donald Trump recounted claims involving pilot Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, an Israeli passenger, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- What
- An unconfirmed account describes a knife attack in the cockpit and a passenger’s intervention to help stop an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft.
- Where
- The incident reportedly occurred aboard a flydubai flight traveling between Dubai and Tel Aviv that landed in Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The report does not specify a date.
- Why
- According to Trump’s account, the pilot and passenger acted to stop the co-pilot after the alleged attack and attempted crash.
Key facts
- Flight operator
- flydubai
- Pilot
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian national
- Reported attacker
- The co-pilot, who allegedly stabbed the pilot
- Passenger intervention
- An Israeli passenger reportedly pulled the co-pilot from the cockpit controls
- Reported landing location
- Saudi Arabia
- Source of account
- Trump said he heard it from Benjamin Netanyahu and other early sources
- Confirmation status
- Trump explicitly said he did not know whether the story was true
Quotes
Donald Trump
US president who recounted the unconfirmed incident to reporters
“Now this is the story that I heard. I don't know if it's true, but that's the story that I got from Bibi and from a couple of probably early (sources)”
rediff.com
“The pilot was in very bad shape; I guess he still is in very bad shape, but he had the sense to, amazing, to, in a way he was a hero,”
rediff.com
Sources
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