Fly Dubai Captain Recounts Axe Attack by Co-Pilot

Captain Smit Machchhar of Fly Dubai has recounted the harrowing axe attack by his co-pilot on flight FZ1073, an incident that narrowly spared the lives of all 172 people on board. Speaking from a hospital in Abu Dhabi, Machchhar described how his colleague assaulted him in the cockpit with an axe before seizing control of the Boeing 737. The aircraft subsequently plummeted approximately 17,000 feet in under a minute. The flight had departed from Dubai on September 30, en route to Tel Aviv. UAE investigators believe the co-pilot intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport's passenger terminal. The suspect, identified as a 29-year-old Omani national, has been arrested and faces terrorism charges. Machchhar is recovering from severe head and arm injuries.

Machchhar told the Emirati newspaper "The National" that he initially mistook the first blow for a structural failure. "The force of the blow nearly pushed me onto the control yoke," he recalled. As the assault continued, he realized his co-pilot was the attacker. Despite severe injuries that temporarily impaired his vision, Machchhar attempted to break free from his restraints and fend off the blows. He tried to alert the rest of the crew by reaching for the cockpit door, but lost consciousness due to significant blood loss.

During the attack, the co-pilot initiated a steep dive, causing the plane to lose 17,000 feet in altitude within a minute. Machchhar described the terrifying sound of the engines throttling down, a sound completely inappropriate for that phase of flight. Passengers and cabin crew, alerted by the unusual descent, began banging on the cockpit door. Machchhar continued to struggle to open it, believing he might not survive.

Eventually, Machchhar managed to open the door, and passengers and crew members rushed in to overpower the co-pilot. Two other Fly Dubai pilots, who were passengers, took control of the aircraft. Machchhar described the scene as chaotic, with numerous individuals trying to regain control. The injured captain was pulled from the cockpit by a passenger and assisted by a lead flight attendant. The Boeing was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. A dentist among the passengers helped stem Machchhar's bleeding from deep wounds.

Machchhar expressed gratitude to those who intervened, stating their actions prevented a worse outcome. He admitted he found it difficult to comprehend the co-pilot's motive, having met him for the first time that morning. Their initial conversation was superficial, and nothing seemed suspicious. Investigators suggest the co-pilot may have radicalized online and through religious instruction in Australia, and had previously flown to Tel Aviv twice to familiarize himself with the route and airport.