Hero Pilot Recounts Cockpit Struggle After Omani Co-Pilot Attack

By ליאור בן ארי

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

CenterCharged tone

Hebrew · 8 newsrooms covering

Flydubai pilot Smith Machar gave his first interviews after being attacked by his co-pilot, Hamam Al-Hamami, detailing the cockpit struggle that saved the plane. Machar described the sudden, powerful blow to his head and his efforts to regain control and reach the cockpit door. He credited survival instinct and a "higher power" for the outcome, while also mentioning the role of Israeli passengers. The incident was prevented from becoming a crash when another crew member took control.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Flydubai pilot Smith Machar gave his first interviews after being attacked by co-pilot Hamam Al-Hamami.
Machar described a sudden, powerful blow to his head as the attack began.
He struggled to reach the cockpit door handle while losing consciousness.
Machar credited survival instinct and a "higher power" for saving himself and others.
He downplayed the role of a specific Israeli passenger, Yiniv Hiyun, in the rescue.
Another crew member took control of the aircraft after the cockpit door opened.

Hero Pilot Recounts Cockpit Struggle After Omani Co-Pilot Attack — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Flydubai pilot Smith Machar has given his first interviews since being stabbed by his Omani co-pilot, Hamam Al-Hamami, detailing the struggle in the cockpit that prevented a crash. Speaking from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi to The National and Sky News Arabia, Machar described the brief, normal pre-flight interactions with Al-Hamami, stating he saw no warning signs. Machar, who was still bandaged, appeared stronger than in a previous television appearance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Machar recounted the moment of the attack, initially thinking it was a technical malfunction or something falling on him. He described a powerful blow to the back of his head that nearly incapacitated him. He explained that he did not know Al-Hamami, as it was their first flight together. Machar managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and tried to block the blows, which were directed at his head, impairing his vision. He reached for the cockpit door handle and shouted to his colleague, losing consciousness briefly before hearing the door open.

He expressed his greatest fear was the engines slowing and the plane diving, and his desperate attempts to reach the door. Machar credited a "higher power" and survival instinct for saving himself and the other passengers and crew. He also addressed reports about Israeli passengers, including Yiniv Hiyun, who was dubbed the "plumber who saved the plane." Machar stated he didn't recall the "plumber" specifically but remembered a senior passenger saying the captain was in control. He humorously questioned if a plumber could land a plane, emphasizing his focus was on survival.

In the Sky News Arabia interview, Machar added that the attacker said something during the assault, but he couldn't understand it. He also described Al-Hamami asking to pray, then suddenly attacking him. Machar admitted there was a moment he thought he might not survive, but his instinct to "do something" kicked in. He praised his colleague for taking control of the aircraft after the cockpit door opened, leading to the successful resolution of the incident.