The Indian pilot who helped avert a potential disaster aboard a flydubai flight was described as an "incredible person" by his former neighbour on Thursday (October 1), after he was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot during an attempt to crash the aircraft.

Janit Shah, a neighbour of pilot Smit Machchhar in Mumbai, described him as "talented, soft-spoken, kind-hearted" and said Machchhar had moved to Dubai around three years ago. "He is an incredible person, and I hope for his fast recovery," Shah said.

Machchhar is recovering in a hospital in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk, where his flight was diverted on Wednesday (September 30) after the co-pilot reportedly stabbed him mid-air in an attempt to crash the plane carrying 174 people, according to Israeli officials.

The Mumbai native was covered in blood on the cockpit floor when he managed to activate the release to open the cockpit door, according to Israeli officials. This allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, while two flydubai pilots travelling as passengers helped land the aircraft.

(Production and Editing: Ariel Wee, Writing: Aditya Kalra, Ariel Wee)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. EXTERIOR OF MANGALAM SWASTIK HEIGHTS, A RESIDENTIAL APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE INDIAN PILOT, SMIT MACHCHHAR, WHO WAS STABBED BY HIS COLLEAGUE ON FLYDUBAI PLANE LIVES

2. VARIOUS OF ENTRY TO APARTMENT 103 WHERE MACHCHHAR LIVES WITH HIS FATHER

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English/Hindi) NEIGHBOUR OF INDIAN PILOT SMIT MACHCHHAR, JANIT SHAH, SAYING:

"Dr. Smit Machchhar is a talented, soft spoken, kind-hearted and a person with good nature. He was my neighbour since last 10-15 years, he shifted to Dubai last two-three years back, and now he is, we are suddenly, a story has emerged where he was able to save lives of 174 (people) after even being stabbed, so he is an incredible person, and I hope for his fast recovery."

4. WOMAN WORKING INSIDE BUILDING WHERE MACHCHHAR USED TO LIVE UNTIL 2005 / EXTERIOR OF BUILDING