In short:
A close friend of the Indian flydubai captain who was attacked during a flight to Israel was shocked upon seeing footage of the incident.
asserted
who → attack → incident
He told the ABC that when incidents happen to people you love "it breaks you".
asserted
it → tell → you
Mr Machchhar has been moved to Abu Dhabi for further treatment and is "recovering well," according to India's embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
uncertain
Machchhar → move → Emirates
When Smit Machcharr was training to become a pilot, his friends called him "Smit Mac".
asserted
friends → train → him
Captain Dhaval Patel trained alongside him in New Zealand, and they have known each other for "close to two decades".
asserted
they → train → decades
"I vividly remember him helping colleagues and peers, educating them on the concepts of aviation with so much clarity and knowledge," Mr Patel said.
asserted
Patel → remember → clarity
"And I had the privilege of getting my fourth stripe on becoming a captain by his hand."
asserted
I → have → hand
So when footage emerged this week of Mr Machchhar after he was attacked while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, his friend could barely believe it.
uncertain
friend → emerge → it
"I saw the first glimpse, and I was just not ready to believe it was Captain Smit," Mr Patel told the ABC.
asserted
Patel → see → ABC
"It just was shattering to be listening and looking at the visuals
asserted
It → listen → visuals
"When it happens to the person you know, the person you love, it breaks you."
asserted
it → happen → you
Mr Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, who "apparently tried to crash the plane", according to Israel's prime minister.
uncertain
who → attack → minister
Now, as Mr Machchhar recovers in hospital, he is being hailed as a hero by his friends, his country, India, and people around the world.
asserted
he → recover → world
Pilot takes a call from PM
asserted
Pilot → take → PM
According to a statement published on X by the Saudi Arabia embassy to the US, preliminary investigations indicate "the first officer had assaulted the aircraft captain, resulting in both sustaining various injuries".
uncertain
both → accord → injuries
After the incident, Mr Machchhar was moved to Abu Dhabi for further treatment and was "recovering well," according to India's embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
uncertain
Machchhar → move → Emirates
His family flew from India to be by his side and is currently with him.
In a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Machchhar said he had been "fighting for my life" on the plane.
"
asserted
he → fly → plane
I have been flying for 17 years.
asserted
I → fly → years
I know what is happening in flight even with my eyes closed," he said.
asserted
he → know → flight
"When I was on the floor, I could sense that the aircraft was going down, and then I told myself, 'Smit, give a last push.
uncertain
I → sense → push
I was getting stabbed at that point as well, but I opened the door, and others came inside.
asserted
others → stab → door
"Everyone had [a] role in it.
asserted
Everyone → have → it
I was trying to save my life but [at the] same time I was also thinking I could not let [passengers] die.
uncertain
passengers → try → time
Afterwards, everyone supported me.
asserted
everyone → support → me
I got the best medical attention here in Saudi."
asserted
I → get → Saudi
Mr Modi told Mr Machchhar he had done "such a tremendous job that not just us Indians but people worldwide want to speak and meet you".
asserted
Indians → tell → you
'Entire clan' full of pride
Mr Patel was glad to see his friend "recovering steadily, out of any danger and in good health".
asserted
friend → see → health
"That was the first sight of relief, seeing he's actually recovering and responding well to all the medical treatments," he said.
asserted
he → see → treatments
He was also happy to see his friend honoured by Mr Modi and "leaders around the world".
asserted
friend → see → world
"It's pride for our entire clan to see one of our colleagues being respected by our honorary prime minister," he said.
asserted
he → see → minister
The Aporia
