'Fought Like A Lion': Indian Pilot Hailed For His Courage Strategic affairs expert John Spencer has praised the Indian pilot at the centre of the Flydubai cockpit incident, saying his actions may have helped alert passengers and give others access to the cockpit. Spencer said the aircraft was already in a steep descent, losing around 18,000 feet in roughly two minutes, while the pilot was reportedly being attacked. The precise nature of the weapon and sequence of events remain under investigation.