Captain Smit Machchhar, the flydubai pilot who survived an alleged mid-air hijacking attempt, has recounted how he fought for his life after his co-pilot attacked him with an axe inside the cockpit.
Machchhar said he feared he would not survive the ordeal as he struggled to defend himself, suffered serious injuries and heard the aircraft’s engines powering down during the September 30 incident.
“To be honest, I was not very sure I would make it out alive,” he said while recounting the terrifying experience in an interview with The National from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi.
The attack occurred aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly turned against him while the aircraft was in Saudi Arabian airspace.
According to Machchhar, the first blow caught him by surprise. He initially thought something had gone wrong with the aircraft before realising that he was under attack.
His immediate concern was to escape his seatbelt, protect himself from further blows and get help from other crew members.
“My immediate action was to free myself from the seatbelts, and I tried to just block the blows as much as I could,” he said.
The captain sustained injuries to his head and arm as he attempted to shield himself from the axe blows.
He also reached for the cockpit door handle and screamed for help, calling out to his colleagues and the attacker.
Machchhar said he believed he lost consciousness during that struggle.
Aircraft Plunges as Captain Fights for Survival
The situation became even more frightening when Machchhar realised the aircraft was descending rapidly.
He recalled hearing the engines spool down, with their sound changing from full power to a level that alarmed him.
“The scariest thing that I heard and felt was the engines spooling down,” he said, describing how he felt the aircraft’s nose pointing steeply downwards.
The aircraft reportedly lost about 16,000 feet of altitude in approximately 30 seconds as the attack unfolded.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar continued trying to reach the cockpit door and alert those outside.
Other pilots who were aboard the aircraft, along with crew members and passengers, eventually intervened and subdued the attacker.
The aircraft was subsequently landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All those aboard survived the incident.
Reflecting on the moment when he feared for his life, Machchhar said he refused to give up.
“Did I give up? No. I can 100% tell you I did not give up,” he said.
Co-Pilot Showed No Sign of Trouble, Captain Says
Machchhar said he had not noticed anything unusual about his co-pilot before the attack.
According to the captain, the flight had begun like an ordinary working day, and their interaction before the incident had been limited to casual conversation.
He said he would have questioned or reported anything suspicious had he noticed warning signs.
The suspect, identified in reports as Hamam al-Hammami, is an Omani national who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates.
UAE prosecutors have described the incident as an alleged plot to hijack the aircraft and crash it into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Investigators have said the plan was inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
Machchhar said he did not understand what prompted his colleague to launch the attack, particularly given that the aircraft was still some distance from its destination.
He also expressed hope that the incident would lead to improvements in aviation security.
“I won’t blame it on anyone. You’ve got to learn from the event,” he said, urging the aviation industry to ensure that such an incident never happens again.
Captain Hopes to Return to Flying
Despite the traumatic experience, Machchhar said his love for aviation remained intact.
The captain, who lives in the UAE with his wife and children, faces a period of recovery following the injuries he sustained during the attack.
Asked whether the experience had changed his feelings about flying, he made it clear that he still wanted to return to the cockpit.
“Did my love die for aviation? Not at all. Not at all,” he said.
He added that he was grateful to have played a role in preventing a disaster and ensuring the safety of those aboard the aircraft.
