Captain Smit Machchhar remains hospitalized following the attack on Flydubai’s flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, Sept. 30

NEED TO KNOW

• More than 170 people were aboard a Flydubai flight from the UAE to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30 when one of the pilots was stabbed
• Passengers overpowered the alleged attacker before reserve pilots diverted the plane to Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates authorities are investigating whether the incident was connected to terrorism

The Flydubai pilot who was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot while around two and a half hours into their flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, is recounting how the suspected hijacking unfolded.

At around 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 30, over 170 people were on board Flydubai flight FZ1073 from the United Arab Emirates when an emergency signal was issued that then switched to a hijacking signal, Reuters, CNN and the BBC reported. 

Captain Smit Machchhar recalled in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi his determination to prevent the plane from crashing as he was attacked and the aircraft plunged 17,000 feet.

“In that moment, I was fighting for my life,” said Machchhar on Friday, Oct. 2, in a translated clip, per the BBC.

“I have been flying planes for 17 years and have been a captain for 11,” he continued. “Even with my eyes closed, I can tell what’s happening in a plane. When I fell, I could tell the plane was going down. I told myself to give it one last push.”

Machchhar said he was still being attacked when he opened the cockpit in the hopes of receiving help.

“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,” he added.

The plane was safely diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia by two reserve pilots after passengers overpowered the attacker, the BBC reported.

Machchhar was initially taken to a hospital in Tabuk, but later airlifted to Abu Dhabi. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that one pilot had stabbed the other before “apparently trying to crash” the plane, per the BBC.

The co-pilot who carried out the alleged attack is of Omani origin, Israeli outlet N12 reported.

The United Arab Emirates has begun investigating “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose,” according to the BBC.

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During Friday’s video call, Prime Minister Modi praised Machchhar for his “quick decision-making [that] saved the lives of so many people.”

“I am not looking at this wound like a wound because that would make my recovery even more difficult,” Machchhar said through tears, per the BBC. “I am looking at it as a journey which is slowly going on and will take time, but I am confident that the recovery will be there and I will become fit and healthy again.”

Flydubai and the Indian Embassy in the UAE did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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