The Relentless 45-Minute Fight By Dentist To Save flydubai's Hero Pilot

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1. 1d ago

   Dentist Recounts 45-Minute Fight to Save Injured Flydubai Pilot

   An Israeli dentist battled for forty-five minutes to keep injured flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar conscious after an alleged mid-air attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Captain Machchhar suffered severe bleeding from his head and left hand during the cockpit assault before managing to unlock the door. Passengers including dentist Dr Shota Musayev and plumber Yaniv Hayoun subdued the attacker while relief pilots stabilized the aircraft. Leaders including Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Donald Trump praised Captain Machchhar for his actions. The captain is currently recovering in a UAE hospital.

   Why it matters

   The incident unfolded aboard a flydubai flight heading toward Tel Aviv, transforming a routine commercial journey into a severe security emergency. Following the thwarted attack, flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel until further notice. Investigators have launched broad probes into the incident, including an FIR filed by India's National Investigation Agency under orders from the Union Home Ministry.

   What is confirmed

   • Indian flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar was injured in a cockpit attack on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
   • Israeli dentist Dr Shota Musaev spent 45 minutes treating Captain Machchhar's severe bleeding using T-shirts and ice packs.
   • Israeli passengers Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber, and Dr Shota Musayev helped subdue the attacker.
   • Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel until further notice following the incident.
   • India's National Investigation Agency filed an FIR to probe the flydubai flight attack.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The flydubai pilot allegedly planned a 9/11-style attack.
   • Israel was prepared to shoot down the flydubai jet during the attempted terror attack.
   • The flydubai co-pilot almost carried out a similar attack in July.

   What to watch next

   • Findings from the National Investigation Agency probe into the broader conspiracy.
   • Updates on Captain Smit Machchhar's recovery in the UAE hospital.
   • Decisions regarding the resumption of flydubai flights to Israel.
   Sources used for this update (19)

   1. NBC News — Flydubai pilot planned 9/11-style attack, source tells NBC News
   2. The Times of Israel — Israel was prepared to shoot down flydubai jet during attempted terror attack — report
   3. WSJ — FlyDubai Co-Pilot Almost Carried Out His Attack in July
   4. Financial Times — The online life of the Flydubai attacker
   5. The Economist — In a near-catastrophe, Binyamin Netanyahu sees an opportunity
   6. NDTV — Israel To Honour Captain Smit Machchhar With Presidential Award For Heroism
   7. NDTV — The Relentless 45-Minute Fight By Dentist To Save flydubai's Hero Pilot
   8. www.thenationalnews.com — ‘Don’t sleep please, we need you,’ dentist told flydubai ...
   9. indiawest.com — Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Injured in Cockpit Attack, Hailed ...
   10. www.wionews.com — Flydubai cockpit attack: Israeli plumber, dentist who helped ...
   11. www.wionews.com — 'Please don't sleep. We need you': Dentist reveals how he ...
   12. www.rediff.com — Dentist's 45-minute battle saved Smit Machchhar after cockpit ...
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