From euronews · Peter Barabas · · 2m
FlyDubai Captain Shares Terror Attack Details
FlyDubai captain reveals how he overcame co-pilot's terrorist attack on flight FZ1073.
In brief
FlyDubai captain reveals how he overcame co-pilot's terrorist attack on flight FZ1073. FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar survived a terrorist attack by co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami on flight FZ1073, opening the cockpit door to save 174 passengers and 6 crew members. Originally reported by euronews.
Captain reveals attack details
FlyDubai hero captain Smit Machchhar shared new details of his fight to save passengers aboard flight FZ1073 during a telephone conversation with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I felt I had one more fight left in me”
Co-pilot attacked cockpit
The UAE-led investigation reported the co-pilot used a crash axe to attack the captain and tried to take control of the plummeting plane in a terrorist attack.
“terrorist attack”
Captain's critical state
Machchhar described how the co-pilot asked to pray in the cockpit, which he did not consider unusual, and then attacked him after 4-5 minutes with heavy blows.
“After 4-5 minutes, I felt a heavy blow to the back of my head”
Aircraft descent
Machchhar's vision became blurred as the aircraft went into a steep descent, and he tried to open the cockpit door but the co-pilot kept closing it.
“I felt how the aircraft went into a steep descent”
Captain opens cockpit door
Machchhar reached for the internal twist handle and with a sharp, quick turn opened the door, letting passengers in who subdued the co-pilot and stabilized the plane.
“a sharp, quick turn”
Netanyahu's praise
Netanyahu called Machchhar a hero with unbelievable courage and invited him and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame on Israel’s next Independence Day.
“You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel”
UAE leadership support
Dubai's Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid praised Machchhar for embodying courage, responsibility, and care for human life.
“embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life”
Co-pilot's background
British newspaper The Telegraph reported the co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, studied aviation at Buckinghamshire New University and made inflammatory social media posts.
“women should be stomped on”
Security concerns
Regional officials said UAE shared passenger lists with Israel ahead of the flight, raising questions over how the attacker evaded detection.
“how the attacker evaded detection”
Netanyahu's security review
Netanyahu ordered an examiner to review all security aspects regarding foreign civil aviation to Israel after the incident.
“appoint an examiner to review all security aspects”
The big picture
FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar survived a terrorist attack by co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami on flight FZ1073, opening the cockpit door to save 174 passengers and 6 crew members.
