Indian Pilot Recounts Attack During Flydubai Flight to Netanyahu

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Saturday evening with Captain Smith Macher, an Indian pilot from a Flydubai flight, who recounted the dramatic events of the flight. Macher described how the co-pilot, who is Omani, requested to pray, a request Macher characterized as routine. "While he was praying, out of respect, I looked forward and not back, and suddenly, after about 4 to 5 minutes, I received a strong blow to the back of my head," Macher stated. He explained that after being struck, he initially feared catastrophic damage to the aircraft. The co-pilot reportedly asked to pray and then attacked Macher from behind.

Macher, the captain of the flight, was speaking with Netanyahu about the incident. He detailed the moment of the assault, which occurred while the co-pilot was engaged in prayer. The captain's attention was directed forward out of respect for the prayer, when he was suddenly hit from behind. The blow to the back of his head led him to believe there was severe damage to the plane.