India, Oct. 4 -- Capt Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was attacked by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash a flydubai aircraft, described the incident in detail to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday.

Recalling the attack inside the cockpit, Machchhar said he felt a "big blow to the back of the head" and that "the blows kept coming".

Notably, UAE investigators have said that the co-pilot planned the "terrorist act" and attacked Machchhar with an axe. Airlines are generally required to keep crash axes in cockpits, which can be used in emergencies to break a window for escape or open a panel to reach a fire.

Netanyahu spoke to Machchhar, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in the UAE. He also ...