Mainland Air chief 'really pleased' how former student handled mid-air stabbing

When Philip Kean saw his former student on the news, involved in a mid-air stabbing over the Middle East, it was a big surprise.The Dunedin flight instructor had taught pilot captain Smit Machchhar 18 years ago, and now, news had broken he was attacked by his co-pilot while flying to Tel Aviv in Israel.Israeli authorities say one pilot stabbed the other before passengers stormed the cockpit and regained control of the plane, which later safely landed in Saudi Arabia.In a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the attacker had tried to crash the plane.The stabbed pilot was named by Netanyahu in a post on social media as Smit Machchhar, who trained as a pilot with Mainland Air in 2008.Mainland Air's chief executive Philip Kean said he was glad with how his former pupil managed the ordeal."I was really pleased to read how he handled the situation, the best way he could with a knife in your side," Kean said."He got through and he got the door open so the other people could save the aeroplane, because if he hadn't have done that, it would have been a disaster."Kean said Machchhar had done very well for himself, and was a captain."Let's hope he mends well and still carries on flying."During the ordeal, the plane lost altitude dramatically."It would feel horrific," Kean said."The height they dropped, if we put it into perspective, is Mount Cook plus 2000-feet on top of Mount Cook, so that's a hell of a drop in a few seconds."Kean said those onboard were lucky the plane didn't fall apart in the drop."That was doing 100 knots more than it was designed for so it just shows you how well designed those aeroplanes are these days."Netanyahu has hailed Machchhar as a "true hero".Security In the SkiesDeputy Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority's Aviation Security Group, Fred Stein told RNZ they were aware of what happened on the Flydubai flight.Asked about the security for plane staff, Stein said people working in secure airside areas in New Zealand were put through identity and background checks, while pilots had to hold a current medical certificate and meet licensing requirements, including holding an Airport Identity Card with appropriate background checks."New Zealand's civil aviation regulations require reinforced, lockable flight deck doors, and airlines must have procedures controlling flight deck access, including when a pilot leaves the cockpit," he said."Overseas airlines flying to New Zealand must meet New Zealand's security requirements and have an approved security programme."Incidents like this nature were extremely rare, Stein said."The [Civil Aviation Authority] keeps New Zealand's aviation security settings under review and will consider any relevant lessons that emerge from the investigation."Echoes of a local caseIn February 2008, The country's only convicted plane hijacker Asha Abdille stabbed both pilots on an Air New Zealand flight from Blenheim to Christchurch.One passenger was injured in the incident.The Somali refugee took knives onto the 19-seater plane, which was forced to make an emergency landing.Abdille was sentenced to nine years in prison.