‘I Didn’t Know What Hit Me’: Flydubai Captain Recalls Mid-Air Attack on Dubai–Tel Aviv Flight
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has described the moment he was struck from behind by his co-pilot during a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying he initially did not know what had hit him.
In an interview published on October 17, Machchhar recalled that the attack happened while he was in the cockpit of the Boeing 737. He said his co-pilot, identified in reports as Hammam Al-Hammami, had stood up to pray, and he avoided looking towards him out of respect.
Machchhar said he was checking his computer when he suddenly felt a powerful blow to the back of his head. He later described repeatedly slipping in and out of consciousness as the incident unfolded.
Pilot Says He Opened the Cockpit Door Despite Injuries
Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene and help restrain the co-pilot, according to published accounts of his interview.
The confrontation created a critical emergency aboard the aircraft. The flight began a rapid descent, alarming passengers who initially struggled to understand what was happening.
Off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft helped regain control and land it safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital following the incident.
Authorities Continue Examining the Incident
The episode has raised serious questions about cockpit security, crew screening and procedures for responding to an onboard threat.
The co-pilot was arrested following the incident. Authorities have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including the motive and whether the episode involved a planned attempt to take control of the aircraft.
Claims about an alleged plan to crash the plane have been reported, but the precise motive should be treated as an allegation unless confirmed by investigators or a formal legal finding.
Machchhar’s latest account provides a first-person description of the moment the confrontation began. Further official findings will be needed to establish the full sequence of events and the reasons behind the attack.