Trump says flydubai pilot 'a hero', plumber steadied plunging aircraft
President Trump praised an Indian pilot and an Israeli passenger for their roles in thwarting a mid-air attack on a flydubai flight. The co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane, but was restrained by passengers after the pilot signaled for help.
Why it matters
The incident highlights a dramatic security event in international aviation and the role of civilian intervention in preventing potential disasters.
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the flydubai pilot as a "hero" for fighting off a knife attack from the co-pilot, opening the cockpit door and calling for help to foil a bid to crash the aircraft.
Interacting with reporters at the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told him that a plumber, who had never flown an aircraft, made a dramatic intervention to steady the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight which landed in Saudi Arabia.
The pilot who staved off the attempt to crash the aircraft has been identified as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and hailed a "hero" by Mr. Netanyahu and many others.
"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," Mr. Trump said, recalling his conversation with Netanyahu.
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