‘Did I give up? No’: Flydubai hero pilot Machchhar recounts fight for life inside cockpit

In his first interview after the attack, Captain Smit Machchhar has described how he tried to protect himself from repeated axe blows while desperately calling for help as a fellow pilot attacked him inside the cockpit of a flydubai aircraft. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv last month and led to a dramatic emergency in the air.

Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in the attack, recalled the terrifying moments in an interview with The National newspaper from a hospital bed in Abu Dhabi. With his head and left arm bandaged, he described how a sudden blow initially left him confused before he realised that he was under attack.

The captain has been praised for his actions during the incident, which took place while the aircraft was flying through Saudi Arabian airspace. According to UAE authorities, the co-pilot allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.

A sudden attack

Machchhar said his first reaction, when the initial blow landed, was that something had gone seriously wrong with the aircraft's structure. He soon realised, however, that the problem was not with the plane but with the person attacking him.

He described the moment as one in which events took a drastic turn. His immediate concern was to free himself and get help from the other crew members. The captain tried to release his seat belts while using his arms to block the blows. He said the axe strikes were directed at his head, leaving his arm injured as he attempted to defend himself.

“My immediate action was to free myself from the seat belts, and I tried to just block the blows as much as I could,” he told The National. With the attack continuing, Machchhar reached towards the knob used to open the cockpit door and began screaming for help. He also called out the name of his colleague.

“Immediately my hand went to the knob which opens the door and screaming for my colleagues, screaming his name,” he recalled. He believes he lost consciousness for the first time at that point.

Aircraft plunges thousands of feet

The attack took place aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly used a crash axe kept in the cockpit for emergency purposes to attack Machchhar.

The incident had a serious impact on the aircraft's flight path. According to the account, the aircraft plunged approximately 16,000 feet, or 4,900 metres, in just 30 seconds.

The sudden descent added to the danger facing everyone on board. Machchhar said one of the most frightening moments was seeing the aircraft's nose point sharply downwards.

He recalled that the aircraft's steep downward movement made him fear that he might not survive. “I was not very sure that I'll make it out alive from this. Did I give up? No,” he said.

Other pilots help bring the aircraft to safety

As the emergency unfolded, the cockpit door opened and Machchhar heard shouting between his colleague and the attacker. Two other pilots who were on board subsequently overwhelmed the suspect and took control of the situation.

The aircraft was then landed safely in Saudi Arabia. The account highlights the critical role played by the pilots who intervened during the emergency and brought the aircraft down safely. The incident could have had far more serious consequences had the crew not been able to stop the attack and regain control of the situation.

UAE authorities investigate alleged plot

The co-pilot, an Omani national, was transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where flydubai is based. According to the UAE Attorney General, the incident was an alleged attempted suicide attack in which the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. UAE public prosecutors have also said that the plan was inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

The criminal investigation was launched on October 1. These details have been reported as part of the authorities' investigation into the case.

A fight to survive

Machchhar's account offers a personal view of the fear and confusion inside the cockpit during an emergency that threatened the aircraft and everyone aboard. Faced with repeated blows to the head, he attempted to protect himself, free himself from his seat belts, and alert his colleagues.

His recollection also highlights how quickly a situation inside an aircraft cockpit can escalate, leaving crew members with little time to react.

Despite his injuries and uncertainty about whether he would survive, Machchhar said he did not give up. His first interview since the attack provides a glimpse into the ordeal he experienced and the desperate efforts made to stop the violence before the aircraft could be brought safely to the ground.