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Story summary
- Captain Smit Machchhar fought off co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami’s stabbing, saving flydubai flight 1073.
- Machchhar, an Indian with 17 years flying experience, was stabbed but opened the cockpit door for rescuers.
- Passengers and two off-duty pilots seized control and landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.
- Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for treatment and is recovering steadily, out of danger.
- Co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, previously banned for suspected radicalisation, was arrested.