Flydubai captain recounts cockpit axe attack and emergency landing
publishers 15articles 16first reported 17 Oct, 15:12 UTCdeveloping since 18 Oct · 7 editions
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has described how he fought to open the cockpit door after his co-pilot attacked him with a crash axe during a September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar said the flight was proceeding normally when co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami stood to pray. Machchhar then felt a hard blow to the back of his head and was struck repeatedly. Initially thinking the aircraft had suffered a structural failure, he soon realized he was under attack and tried to block blows aimed at his head.
Machchhar said he freed himself from his seat belt, reached for the cockpit-door control and screamed for help while repeatedly losing consciousness. He recalled the aircraft entering a steep descent and said he was unsure he would survive, but resolved to keep fighting.
Cabin crew, passengers and off-duty pilots restrained al-Hammami after the cockpit door opened. Two off-duty pilots then landed flight FZ1073 at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The aircraft had plunged 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds, according to reports. All 180 people aboard evacuated safely, while Machchhar was hospitalized with injuries to his head, neck and hands.
UAE prosecutors have characterized the incident as an attempted suicide attack intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport, saying the plan was inspired by the September 11 attacks. Al-Hammami, an Omani national, was arrested and transferred to the UAE as authorities continued their investigation.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 19 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
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- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 19 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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