Flydubai captain recounts cockpit axe attack and emergency landing

Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has described how he opened the cockpit door while being attacked with a crash axe by his co-pilot aboard Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

Machchhar told The National and Sky News Arabia that the flight had been proceeding normally before the first officer stood to pray and then struck him repeatedly. Machchhar initially thought equipment had fallen on him, but soon realized he was under attack. Despite drifting in and out of consciousness and suffering wounds to his head, neck, arm and hands, he tried to block the blows, release his seat belt and reach the cockpit-door control while calling for help.

The aircraft then descended sharply while flying through Saudi airspace. The National reported that it dropped about 17,000 feet in less than a minute, while other reports put the descent at 16,000 feet in 30 seconds.

After the cockpit door opened, cabin crew, passengers and off-duty pilots restrained the first officer. Two off-duty pilots took control and landed the Boeing 737 safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Everyone aboard survived.

The suspect was arrested and transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where he faces terrorism charges. UAE prosecutors have described the incident as a premeditated attempted suicide attack and said the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport. The investigation began on October 1.