Injured Captain Recounts Terror Flight Struggle, Vows to Fly Again
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Captain Sami Machchar, severely injured in a "Flydubai" terror flight attack by his co-pilot, recounted his struggle to regain control of the plane. The aircraft, carrying mostly Israelis, plummeted from 30,000 feet before an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Machchar, despite critical injuries, managed to open the cockpit door, enabling others to subdue the attacker and stabilize the plane. He has vowed to return to flying soon.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Captain Sami Machchar recounted his heroic struggle against an attacker on a "Flydubai" terror flight.
- The captain sustained severe neck and hand injuries during the cockpit battle.
- The aircraft, with mostly Israeli passengers, plummeted from 30,000 feet.
- Machchar's actions allowed others to subdue the attacker and stabilize the plane.
- The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Machchar vowed to return to flying soon despite his critical injuries.
Captain Sami Machchar, who was severely injured during a "Flydubai" terror flight, recounted the harrowing moments in the cockpit from his hospital bed. Machchar described the brutal attack by the co-pilot, an attacker from Oman, and his heroic struggle to regain control of the aircraft while bleeding and losing consciousness. The captain sustained critical injuries to his neck and hands during the ordeal.
Machchar explained that initially, he thought a structural failure had occurred, but the repeated blows made him realize it was an attack. He attempted to block the blows, sustaining a hand injury, while simultaneously feeling the plane rapidly descending. The flight, en route from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport with approximately 180 passengers, most of them Israelis, experienced a terrifying dive from 30,000 feet to 15,000 feet at speeds nearing 1,000 km/h.
Despite his severe condition and blood loss, Machchar fought back. He managed to crawl to the cockpit door and open it, allowing crew members and passengers to enter and subdue the attacker. Two other Flydubai pilots, traveling as passengers, entered the cockpit and helped stabilize the aircraft. After an emergency code 7500 was broadcast, indicating a hijacking, the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchar was evacuated for urgent medical treatment in Saudi Arabia, where his condition was stable but serious. The Israeli passengers were secured by Saudi security forces and later returned to Israel on a special rescue flight. Despite his injuries, Machchar expressed his determination to return to flying, stating, "I will return to activity, hopefully soon."
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