Blows Kept Coming: Indian Flydubai Captain Recounts Mid-Air Cockpit Attack

Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has recounted his desperate fight for survival after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight, repeatedly striking his head with an axe and sending the aircraft plunging towards the ground.

Speaking to The National from Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Machchhar said he initially believed something had fallen from the aircraft’s structure and hit him. However, as the blows continued, he realised that the person attacking him was his own colleague.

“The first time when I was hit … my thought was something's gone horribly wrong with the aircraft structure, which has fallen on my head,” he said.

The captain recalled trying to free himself from his seat belt and shield his head as his vision deteriorated. He suffered serious injuries to his head and arm and repeatedly lost consciousness during the assault.

“I was in and out of consciousness frequently,” he told Sky News Arabia, describing how he struggled to remain alive as the situation spiralled out of control.

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft plunged approximately 17,000 feet in less than a minute after the first officer allegedly attacked Machchhar and took control.

Machchhar said he heard the engines slowing and felt the aircraft descending steeply. Despite his injuries, he repeatedly attempted to open the cockpit door while calling for help.

“There came a moment when I realised that, and I told myself: Do something. You can't die like this,” he recalled.

After several attempts, Machchhar managed to open the door, allowing cabin crew members and passengers to intervene and restrain the alleged attacker. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling on the aircraft then took control, and the plane was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

All 172 passengers and crew members survived the incident. The injured captain received medical treatment in Abu Dhabi, where he is recovering.

Machchhar said he had noticed no unusual behaviour from his co-pilot before the attack. The two had flown together for the first time, and their interactions had appeared routine.

The incident has raised questions about cockpit security, emergency procedures and the presence of an axe inside the flight deck. Machchhar believes the aviation industry must learn from the episode to prevent similar incidents.

“I won't blame it on anyone. You've got to learn from the event,” he said.

Despite the ordeal, the Indian captain said his love for aviation remained unchanged and that he hoped to return to flying after recovering from his injuries.