New details have emerged about the dramatic cockpit attack aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, with the captain describing how he fought his way to the cockpit door after allegedly being attacked by his co-pilot.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was piloting flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the incident occurred.
According to ABC News, Machchhar said the co-pilot had asked to pray, something he described as normal during flights. Minutes later, the captain said he suddenly felt a blow to his head.
Machchhar initially believed the aircraft had suffered a serious mechanical failure, but after being struck repeatedly, he realised he was being attacked by the other pilot in the cockpit.
Multiple sources familiar with the investigation identified the suspect as 29-year-old Hamam Al Hammami. He allegedly attacked the captain with a weapon before taking control of the aircraft and causing it to descend.
Despite suffering injuries and blurred vision, Machchhar said he realised his survival — and potentially that of those on board — depended on reaching the cockpit door.
“I gave everything that I had, and just went for the door,” he recalled.
After the captain managed to open the cockpit door, passengers entered and subdued the suspect, according to investigators.
Passenger Yaniv Hayun reportedly removed the suspect from the cockpit and initially took control of the aircraft, while others helped restrain the alleged attacker.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All 172 passengers and crew survived the incident.
Machchhar, who was injured in the attack, later received treatment in the United Arab Emirates.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently spoke with the captain by telephone and thanked him for his actions, inviting him to visit Israel.
The suspect has been taken into custody, while an investigation into the incident is continuing.
Following the incident, flydubai temporarily suspended its operations to Tel Aviv until further notice. (Newswire)