'Hero in a way': Trump hails stabbed Flydubai Indian pilot, calls co-pilot 'whack job'
Former US President Donald Trump praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his actions during a mid-air stabbing attack by his co-pilot on a Flydubai flight. The incident, which caused the plane to lose altitude, is currently under investigation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights critical aviation security concerns and the role of pilot intervention in preventing potential mid-air disasters.
US President Donald Trump has hailed Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar as “a hero” after he was stabbed by his co-pilot during a mid-air attack on an Israel-bound flight.“In a way he was a hero,” Trump said of Machchhar, saying the badly wounded pilot still managed to open the cockpit door and call for help.Trump, while speaking about the incident, also described the co-pilot as “perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job”, as the motive behind the attack remained under investigation.The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight plunged thousands of feet during the confrontation in the cockpit, triggering panic among passengers.
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