Opened cockpit door of plane while being attacked, Indian pilot tells Modi

Indian pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar says he opened the cockpit door from inside a Flydubai jet bound for Israel after his co-pilot attacked him and the aircraft began a rapid descent. In a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he was injured on the floor but made “one last push” to get the door open so passengers could enter and help stop the fall. The plane was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia. Modi praised Machchhar’s courage and decision-making, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “true hero.” Machchhar was first taken to Tabuk, then airlifted to Abu Dhabi, reported stable.