The Indian airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight described Friday how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a steep descent.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised video call that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save his passengers.

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 I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,  he said from the hospital, his head bandaged and tubes in his nose, before breaking down as he recalled the attack.

 I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn't get up … then passengers would lose their lives,  he told Modi.


Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, was seriously injured in Wednesday's attack but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended sharply, witnesses and Israeli authorities said. He has been hailed as a hero, with world leaders saying he helped avert a disaster.

The flight, carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. FlyDubai said Wednesday that the jet was secured by on-duty crew members  who diverted and landed the aircraft safely.  A regional official said the crew members were pilots in training.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia and was undergoing interrogation there. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

Modi told Machchhar his  courage, patience, and presence of mind  saved many lives.

Machchhar said his flying experience allowed him to sense the plane's steep descent even after he was knocked down by the attacker.

 I have been flying planes for 17 years and serving as a captain for the last 11 years. I can sense exactly what is happening with the aircraft even with my eyes closed. When I was down, I could feel that th

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