FlyDubai captain recounts struggle to regain cockpit control after co-pilot attack
Captain Smit Machchhar told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu how he overcame repeated assaults by the co-pilot to open the cockpit door and allow passengers to subdue the attacker, stabilising the aircraft.
Captain Smit Machchhar of FlyDubai described to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the sequence of events on flight FZ1073 that led to a violent confrontation in the cockpit. He said the co-pilot initially asked to pray in the cockpit, after which the captain was struck repeatedly, causing him to lose vision and the aircraft to enter a steep descent. Machchhar reported that the co-pilot repeatedly closed the cockpit door while passengers attempted to gain entry using an access code.
According to Machchhar, the cockpit door could be opened from inside with a twist handle and from outside with a code. After a second attempt, he managed to turn the internal handle, allowing passengers to enter, restrain the co-pilot and stabilise the plane.
Netanyahu praised Machchhar’s actions, calling him a hero and inviting him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a ceremony in Israel. The UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid also visited Machchhar in hospital, commending his conduct.
British media later identified the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, noting past social-media posts that expressed extremist views and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. UAE officials described the incident as a terrorist act, with the prosecutor general stating the co-pilot used a crash axe against the captain.