New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped avert a major tragedy after being attacked by his co-pilot on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that despite being severely injured and fighting for his own life, he made "one last push" to reach the cockpit door as he could not let all the passengers die.

Speaking to PM Modi over the phone on Friday, Machchhar recalled the moments after he collapsed to the floor following the attack and said his 17 years of flying experience helped him realise that the aircraft was going down.

"When I was down on the floor, I sensed that the aircraft was going down. And I knew for sure: 'This is the one last push, Smit. Just do it. The door is right there.' Even as blows w...