Ajay Singh said Captain Smit Machchhar had to reach toward the co-pilot’s side to open the cockpit door after being stabbed. Singh’s point was that doing so meant moving toward the side of the cockpit where the attacker was, even as Machchhar was injured.
Why did Singh say opening the door took courage?
Singh, SpiceJet’s chairman and managing director and Machchhar’s former employer, told Hindustan Times: “The handle that opens the cockpit door is actually on the co-pilot’s side. It would have needed real courage after being stabbed to reach out to the co-pilot’s side and open the door.” Public TV reproduced ANI’s account of Singh’s remarks.
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His explanation turns on the reported position of the handle and the danger of reaching for it during the struggle. It is Singh’s account, not an independent technical finding about every detail of the aircraft’s door mechanism.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What happened aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073?
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an attack in the cockpit was reported. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Hindustan Times and the Associated Press described a sharp descent during the struggle.
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Published accounts say Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and intervene. The Associated Press reported that the attacker was restrained. Hindustan Times and The Indian Express said other pilots aboard helped stabilize the aircraft and land it in Saudi Arabia.
The Indian Express also reported Machchhar’s description of an interior twist mechanism. These details come from news accounts; the sources cited here do not include a formal investigation report or a technical statement from the aircraft manufacturer.
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What did Singh say goes through a pilot’s mind?
In remarks reproduced by Public TV from ANI, Singh said: “The first thing that will go through a pilot’s mind is preserving lives, saving lives.” It was his reflection on a pilot’s response under pressure, not a verified account of Machchhar’s private thoughts.
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Why do reports give different numbers of people?
The published figures refer to different statements and are not reconciled in the reports:
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- Public TV reported Singh saying that 180 lives had been entrusted to Machchhar.
- The Associated Press reported that 182 people were aboard.
- The Associated Press quoted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying 174 people were saved.
These numbers should not be treated as interchangeable counts: one is Singh’s description of the responsibility Machchhar carried, one is the reported number aboard, and one is Netanyahu’s statement about people saved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has a motive been established?
Not in the cited reporting. The Associated Press said the motive was not immediately clear, and ABC reported that Flydubai cautioned against premature speculation. The accounts do not establish a motive or support presenting one as fact.
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