Flydubai commander Captain Smit Machchar has provided his first extended account of the mid-air incident that took place on September 30, describing the terrifying moments when he was assaulted by his co-pilot inside the cockpit of flight FZ1073. The aircraft, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to divert and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following the violent confrontation.
Captain Machchar stated that the flight had begun as a routine operation. Approximately two hours into the journey, a relief captain had visited the cockpit to discuss administrative matters. Following a toilet break, the co-pilot returned and requested that the relief captain step out, stating his intention to pray. According to Captain Machchar, such requests are typically accommodated within the region during stable flight conditions.
Moments later, while focused on calculating fuel figures and landing times on the computer, Machchar was struck with force at the back of his head. Initially, the captain believed a piece of the Boeing 737’s cockpit structure had failed. However, upon glancing behind him, he realized he was being attacked by his co-pilot. He sustained multiple blows, which caused significant bleeding and limited his vision to mere inches.
As the assault continued, the aircraft began to experience a rapid descent. Captain Machchar recalled hearing the engines spool down, a sensation he noted is unmistakable to pilots even if their eyes are closed. He described the period as a struggle for survival, stating, “There was a moment I told myself, Smit, do something, you can’t die like this.” Despite drifting in and out of consciousness due to blood loss, he managed to unbuckle his restraints, shield himself, and reach the door switch to call for help from the relief captain.
The cockpit door opened briefly, allowing for a confrontation between the co-pilot and other crew members, before it was eventually closed again. Machchar, who remembers little of the immediate aftermath due to his injuries, credited his colleagues for eventually regaining control of the aircraft and preventing a disaster. He noted that the recovery of the plane is a memory he will carry for the rest of his life.
Following the diversion to Saudi Arabia, the pilot remained focused on staying conscious until the plane reached the ground, aided by a doctor on board and his crew. His first priority after the ordeal was to contact his young son. In the weeks since the incident, Machchar has been working with doctors and psychologists to address the fragmented memories of the flight and manage the trauma of the event.
While speculation has circulated regarding the specifics of how the crew managed to secure the aircraft, Captain Machchar refrained from singling out individual actions, emphasizing that everyone on board, including the crew and passengers, performed to the best of their capacity. He confirmed that he is currently undergoing a recovery process and is gradually returning to a state where he can hold sustained conversations.
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