Flydubai co-pilot attacks captain with axe mid-flight
UAE prosecutor general reports a Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe, plunging the plane 17,000ft before passengers subdued him.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe on a flight bound for Tel Aviv.
- The aircraft plunged 17,000 feet two and a half hours into the journey with over 170 people aboard.
- Injured Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door from inside for passengers.
- Reserve pilots safely landed the plane in Saudi Arabia after passengers overpowered the attacker.
A terrifying mid-flight incident unfolded aboard a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft and attacked the pilot with a crash axe, according to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general.
The flight, carrying more than 170 passengers and crew, experienced a dramatic plunge of 17,000 feet, or approximately 5,200 meters, roughly two and a half hours into the journey. Passengers successfully intervened and overpowered the attacker before a catastrophe occurred.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Captain Smit Machchhar, who sustained stab wounds during the attack, recalled lying injured on the floor when he realized the aircraft was sinking. He stated that he pushed himself for one last effort to open the cockpit door from the inside, enabling passengers to come to the rescue.
Two reserve pilots subsequently landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. The crash axe used in the assault is typically kept inside the cockpit for emergency situations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the attacker as an Omani national, while multiple media outlets reported his name as Hamam al-Hammami.
"Suddenly the aeroplane started to, like a rollercoaster, to drop down [with] a massive G-force. It was falling down for 20 or 30 seconds, rapidly, and then balanced, and then started once again to fall down."
Almog Itali (Flight Passenger)
Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that the onboard alarm was raised by an Israeli passenger, Tali Manes, who heard a commotion from the cockpit. Her husband Zvika, alongside three other men—Yaniv Hayun, Dr Shota Musayev, and Asaf Rajuan—entered the cockpit after Captain Machchhar opened the door. Hayun described putting the attacker in a chokehold and dragging him outside before others pinned him down.
Security incidents originating from inside the cockpit represent one of the most severe vulnerabilities in commercial aviation. While flight decks are heavily fortified to prevent unauthorized entry from the cabin, insider threats require rigorous psychological screening and comprehensive oversight protocols across international airlines to ensure absolute flight safety.
In a media interview, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the injured pilot, passengers, and secondary crew for managing to prevent a 9/11-style disaster. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in the UAE confirmed that Captain Machchhar, an Indian national, is in stable condition and recovering well after receiving medical treatment.
Source: BBC World
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