The Indian pilot stabbed by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv replayed the dramatic attack and his desperate effort to open the cockpit door to seek help, in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (October 2).

Smit Machchhar, seen with a tube in his nose and bandages on his head and hands, spoke to Modi from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi during a nearly 10-minute clip released on the prime minister's social media channels, wiping away tears as he narrated his ordeal.

"I knew that the aircraft was going down ... I had fallen to the ground. I told myself that the door is right there, just open it. I managed to do it and people entered," he said.

Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash the flydubai plane on Wednesday. The jet, with 174 people on board, plunged nearly 14,000 ft (4,267 m) in less than 30 seconds in the incident.

"I have been flying for the last 17 years, have been a captain for the last 11 years. I knew that the aircraft was going down," he said.

Modi praised Machchhar's bravery and said his presence of mind saved lives and saved the reputation of Indian pilots.

Machchhar was covered with blood and on the floor when he managed to open the cockpit door, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Reuters on Thursday.

That allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and let a second pair of flydubai pilots on board take control of the jet and land it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 2, 2026) (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HANDOUT VIA ANI - No use India)

1. INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI ON SPLIT SCREEN WITH PILOT, SMIT MACHCHHAR /

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FLYDUBAI INDIAN PILOT, SMIT MACHCHHAR, SAYING:

"You are my biggest idol and I am feeling very proud that you called me and encouraged me. I was fighting for my life in that moment (when the co-pilot attacked). It was a moment when I thought, because I had fallen on the floor, I was wounded and fell down. At that moment I thought if I don't get up, I've been flying for the last 17 years and I have been a captain for the last 11 years, and even if I shut my eyes, I can tell what is happening inside a plane. When I was lying on the floor, I could feel that the aircraft was plunging and I said to myself while I was getting beaten, 'this is the last push Smit, do it, the door is right there.’ Somehow, I opened the door and everyone came in and everyone else had an equal role (in the rescue). I was trying to save myself but I also knew that I can't let anyone die."

2. WHITE FLASH

NEW DELHI, INDIA (OCTOBER 2, 2026) (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HANDOUT VIA ANI - No use India)

3. MODI AND MACHCHHAR ON SPLIT SCREEN / (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, SAYING:

"How are you? How are you feeling?"

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 2, 2026) (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HANDOUT VIA ANI - No use India)

4. MODI AND MACHCHHAR ON SPLIT SCREEN / (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FLYDUBAI INDIAN PILOT, SMIT MACHCHHAR, SAYING:

"I am fine and everything is all right."

NEW DELHI, INDIA (OCTOBER 2, 2026) (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HANDOUT VIA ANI - No use India)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, SAYING:

"The entire country is praying for you." / MODI AND MACHCHHAR ON SPLIT SCREEN

"People are chanting mantras (for you). Your courage, patience, and presence of mind. You took a decision in a fraction of second and saved the lives of so many people and today, the whole country can say this with pride and 'we Indians are not killers, we are life savers.’ And you endured so many wounds on your body and you are fighting a battle of life and death. In that moment as well, you did not think of your life, rather thought about the lives of the passengers. And the biggest thing is you enhanced the honour of 1.4 billion Indians and that is why I am feeling proud from my heart."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI, SAYING:

"Yesterday, prayers and chants were offered in all the temples and holy places, wishing for your long life, and we all are praying for your good health. You are going to be in good health very soon and India is very eager to welcome you."

8. WHITE FLASH

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 2, 2026) (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE HANDOUT VIA ANI - No use India)

9. MODI AND MACHCHHAR ON SPLIT SCREEN / (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) FLYDUBAI INDIAN PILOT, SMIT MACHCHHAR, SAYING:

"I am not thinking about my wounds like typical wounds because that will hinder my recovery. I am taking these wounds like a journey which will progress slowly and it will take time but I am very confident that this recovery will happen and I will be absolutely healthy."