# Flydubai captain blocked axe blows during cockpit attack

> Captain Smit Machchhar fought off a co-pilot armed with a crash axe who intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion airport, helping to avert disaster.
- Title: Flydubai captain blocked axe blows during cockpit attack
- Summary: Captain Smit Machchhar fought off a co-pilot armed with a crash axe who intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion airport, helping to avert disaster…
- Keywords: flydubai, captain smit machchhar, cockpit attack, flight fz1073, dubai, tel aviv, ben gurion airport, crash axe, attempted suicide attack, saudi arabia, news, world
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-blocking-axe-blows-flight-fz1073
- Author: Reuters
- Published: 2026-10-18T17:27:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flydubai, captain smit machchhar, cockpit attack, flight fz1073, dubai, tel aviv, ben gurion airport, crash axe, attempted suicide attack, saudi arabia, news, world
## Co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe
Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was attacked by a co-pilot armed with a crash axe who intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion airport.
## Captain blocked blows and screamed for help
Captain Smit Machchhar blocked axe blows to his head and arm as he screamed for help and reached to open the cockpit door during the attack.

> The blows were coming on the head. Immediately my hand went to the knob which opens the door and [I was] screaming for my colleagues, screaming his name.
## Plane plunged sixteen thousand feet in thirty seconds
The aircraft plunged sixteen thousand feet in thirty seconds after the attack. Two other pilots on board overwhelmed the attacker and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
## Attack inspired by September eleven, prosecutors say
UAE public prosecutors said the plan was inspired by the eleven September two thousand one attacks on the US. The suspect, an Omani national, was transferred to the UAE.
## Captain feared for his life but did not give up
Machchhar said the scariest moment was feeling the aircraft nose steeply going down. He said he was not sure he would survive but refused to give up.

> I was not very sure that I'll make it out alive from this. Did I give up? No.
## Key takeaway

Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar blocked axe blows from a co-pilot attacking him in the cockpit on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, helping prevent a crash intended as a suicide attack.