Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar Recalls Mid-Air Cockpit Attack

Smit Machchhar, an Indian Flydubai captain, has revealed the horrific moments he faced when his co-pilot reportedly assaulted him while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The September 30 event resulted in significant head and arm injuries, as the aircraft plummeted steeply before other pilots and crew members intervened to calm the situation down.

Machchhar relayed his story from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi. He described fighting to comprehend what was happening as repeated punches impacted his head, his consciousness vanished, and the aeroplane began to lose altitude.

Initially, he assumed that something within the aeroplane had fallen on him. Only when the strikes persisted did he learn that his coworker was supposedly to blame for the incident.

The incident occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 172 passengers and staff. The flight was finally redirected to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar Fights to Survive

Machchhar claimed he was checking flight information on his computer when the event occurred. His co-pilot was praying behind him, and the captain decided not to look back while his buddy was busy.

He remembers suffering a tremendous blow to the back of his head. He couldn’t figure out what was causing the problem at first, but the repeated hits eventually revealed the truth.

The captain attempted to defend himself by releasing himself from his seat belt. However, his injuries harmed his vision, and he constantly lost and regained consciousness during the battle.

Machchhar understood that, despite his state, he needed to act. He remembered telling himself that he needed to do something to survive.

The scenario got increasingly perilous as the plane descended. Machchhar reported hearing the engines slowing and feeling the plane descend steeply toward the earth.

According to the investigation, the aircraft fell roughly 17,000 feet in less than a minute after the first officer reportedly attacked the captain and assumed command.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar continued to attempt to open the cockpit door. He ultimately opened it, allowing passengers and personnel to enter and apprehend the suspected perpetrator.

Two Flydubai pilots going off duty as passengers then took command of the plane. The jet was diverted to Tabuk, where it safely landed and all 172 persons on board survived the disaster.

Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar Seeks Safety Lessons

Machchhar stated that he had not observed any strange activity from his co-pilot prior to the trip. It was the two pilots’ first flight together, and their previous exchanges appeared ordinary.

He also stated that he did not understand what triggered the claimed attack, especially because the aircraft to Tel Aviv had more than an hour remaining.

The pilot believes that the tragedy should serve as a lesson in aviation safety. He proposed evaluating cockpit protocols and checking for the presence of an emergency axe on the flight deck.

Rather than assigning blame, Machchhar believes the aim should be to learn from the tragedy and take efforts to prevent another incident.

Despite the tragedy and his injuries, he remained committed to flying. He expects to return to the cockpit once he’s recovered.

His tale focuses on the fight to regain control of the aircraft during the emergency, as well as the efforts of other pilots and crew members in safely landing the aeroplane.