Smit Machchar, the Indian pilot who fought and was injured as he prevented his colleague from crashing an Israel-bound Flydubai plane carrying more than 170 people, has narrated how he managed to thwart the planned crash.

With a bandage on his head, Mr Machchar spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital in the UAE, his first public speech since the incident on Wednesday.

“I feel an immense sense of pride. At that moment, I was fighting for my life, but I realised that if I didn’t get up and act—after being seriously injured and lying on the floor—no one else would,” Mr Machchar said.

The Indian pilot explained how he managed to open the cockpit after he was attacked by his Omani colleague, giving passengers access to overpower the attackers and save the situation.

“I’ve been flying planes for 17 years and have been a captain for the last 11 years, and I know what’s happening on the plane, even with my eyes closed.

“I knew that only one more push was needed to open the door. Despite my injuries, I opened it, and the rest of the crew came in and did their part. I knew I couldn’t let the passengers die,” Mr Machchar said.

Both Indian and Israeli leaders have lauded Mr Machchar for saving passengers aboard the Flydubai flight FZ1073, which his colleague attempted to crash.

“Captain Smit Machchar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11 like attack from happening,” Mr Modi said. “One hundred and forty crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said preliminary investigations established that the Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane carrying about 170 passengers “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.”

The prime minister said investigations are ongoing to unravel the motive of the pilot who stabbed his captain and almost downed Flydubai’s flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel, which made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.