Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, recounted the harrowing events that unfolded in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 when his co-pilot attacked him. During a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Machchhar revealed that the assault commenced shortly after the co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, requested to pray.
In the call on Saturday, Machchhar described how, just minutes after the co-pilot’s request, he suddenly felt a forceful blow to the back of his head, followed by a series of repeated strikes. Initially, he believed that the aircraft might be experiencing a mechanical failure. However, it soon became evident that his co-pilot was the source of the attack.
Despite sustaining serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door while the aircraft was in a steep descent, allowing passengers to enter and assist in restraining the co-pilot. Two other flydubai pilots who were on board also played a crucial role in stabilizing the aircraft before it executed an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
In his conversation with Netanyahu, Machchhar noted that the flight had been proceeding normally until the co-pilot announced his intention to pray. Out of respect, Machchhar turned away, but moments later, the attack began. He recounted, “Suddenly, after four or five minutes, there was a big blow to the back of my head.”
Initially disoriented, Machchhar feared that the plane had suffered catastrophic damage. “But after that, the blows kept coming, one after the other,” he explained, realizing that the threat was coming from the individual sharing the cockpit with him.
As the assault continued, Machchhar struggled to defend himself, but his vision was severely impaired. He sensed the aircraft was descending rapidly, losing significant altitude in a very short period. His recollection of the incident was fragmented, but he remembered trying to open the cockpit door, only for the co-pilot to thwart his efforts.
Eventually, lying on the cockpit floor and hearing screams from the cabin, Machchhar summoned his remaining strength for one final attempt to open the door. “That’s when I pushed against everything, I gave everything that I had, and just went for the door,” he recounted. His determination led to the door being opened, enabling crew members and passengers to rush in and take control of the situation.
In previous discussions, Machchhar had shared a similar narrative with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing his realization of the airplane’s perilous descent and his critical effort to unlock the cockpit door. Netanyahu, during their exchange, inquired about how Machchhar managed to open the door while injured, to which the captain explained that the cockpit door could be accessed from the inside with a twist mechanism.
After the door was opened, passengers quickly entered the cockpit to assist in subduing the co-pilot. Flydubai later confirmed that crew members on board played a vital role in stabilizing the aircraft and safely landing it. However, the airline has not disclosed the identities of the two pilots who were involved in this emergency situation.
This account has drawn attention and admiration from various leaders, with Netanyahu expressing his gratitude to Machchhar, referring to him as a hero for Israel, India, and the world. The incident has sparked discussions regarding cockpit safety and the protocols in place to handle such emergencies.
