India, Oct. 1 -- Neighbours of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar's family in Mumbai's Ghatkopar expressed pride in his actions and prayed for his recovery on Thursday after he was seriously injured during an attack aboard a Flydubai flight.

Machchhar, who previously lived with his parents at Swastik Heights before moving to Dubai, was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and restrain the attacker. The aircraft later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Dr Jinit Shah, a neighbour who has known Machchhar for more than 15 years, described him as kind-hearted and hel...