Indian Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured after being attacked by his co-pilot during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, has shared a detailed account of the terrifying moments inside the cockpit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A new video has also emerged showing the moments after passengers restrained the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Machchhar. The footage shows the co-pilot on his knees with his hands tied behind his back as passengers repeatedly insist that he be handed over to police.
'There was a big blow to the back of my head'
Machchhar, who is recovering in a hospital in the UAE, said the flight was proceeding normally before the co-pilot asked for time to pray.
Out of respect, Machchhar said he looked towards the front of the cockpit and did not pay attention to what was happening behind him.
Around four to five minutes after the co-pilot began praying, Machchhar suddenly felt a heavy blow to the back of his head.
His first thought was that something catastrophic had happened to the aircraft. However, as the blows continued, he realised he was being attacked by the other person inside the cockpit.
Machchhar said he tried to fight back, but the assault left his vision severely blurred. He then realised that the aircraft was sharply descending.
"I had that one last fight left in me," Machchhar told Netanyahu, describing his final attempt to reach the cockpit door despite his injuries.
Pilot fought to open cockpit door
Machchhar said he managed to open the cockpit door once, but the co-pilot closed it again. By then, he was lying on the cockpit floor and could hear the aircraft descending and passengers screaming.
Despite his injuries and disorientation, Machchhar made another attempt to reach the door. He pushed himself forward with whatever strength he had left and managed to open it.
Passengers and crew members then intervened and helped overpower the attacker. Two off-duty pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also assisted in taking control of the plane.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
What happened aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073?
The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board.
According to investigators and officials, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit using an emergency axe and allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft.
During the incident, the plane went into a severe descent. According to Reuters, it fell more than 16,000 feet in around 30 seconds at the most dramatic point of the plunge before control was restored.
Once the cockpit door was opened, passengers rushed forward and helped restrain the attacker.
New video shows passengers restraining co-pilot
A 45-second video shared by Israeli news channel i24NEWS shows the co-pilot on his knees inside the aircraft with his hands restrained behind his back. Blood can be seen on his clothes.
Passengers can be heard repeatedly saying "just police" and "only police", indicating that they wanted the suspect to remain restrained until he could be handed over to authorities.
The footage offers a glimpse of the chaos inside the aircraft after passengers intervened and subdued the co-pilot.
Crew allegedly asked passengers to release him
According to accounts given by passengers to media outlets, some members of the cabin crew subsequently asked them to untie and release the co-pilot.
Israeli passengers who helped restrain him said they refused. Tzvika Manes, one of the passengers involved, told the New York Post that crew members had asked them to free the suspect. Another passenger, Daniel Schlichter, said they were determined to keep the co-pilot restrained until authorities arrived.
The passengers said their intention was not to harm the co-pilot but to ensure that he remained alive and could be questioned by investigators.
One passenger said they even provided him with an oxygen mask because they wanted him to survive and face an investigation.
Passengers take control amid chaos
The passengers' intervention came after Machchhar, despite his serious injuries, managed to open the cockpit door.
Several passengers helped restrain the co-pilot using items including earphone cables and plastic ties. Two off-duty pilots who were travelling on the aircraft then entered the cockpit and assisted in flying the aircraft.
After the co-pilot was subdued, control of the plane was restored and the flight was diverted to Tabuk.
Machchhar and the co-pilot both sustained injuries. Videos recorded inside the cabin showed blood on the aircraft and passengers attempting to assist the injured pilot.
UAE calls incident attempted terrorist attack
The UAE prosecutor general has described the co-pilot's actions as an attempted "terrorist attack", saying he attacked the captain with a crash axe in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
The suspect was subsequently transferred from Saudi custody to the UAE.
However, investigators are still working to establish the motive and determine whether anyone else was involved. Authorities have not publicly established the full circumstances behind the attack.
Who is the Omani co-pilot?
Sources cited by Reuters have identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, although authorities have not publicly confirmed all details about his identity and background.
The investigation is examining his background, possible motives and whether the incident was planned or directed by anyone else.
The incident has also raised questions about how an Omani national was serving as co-pilot on a flight bound for Israel, given that Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations.
Netanyahu praises Machchhar's bravery
During their call, Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his actions and credited him with helping prevent a much larger tragedy.
Machchhar has received widespread praise in India and Israel following the incident. He had earlier spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from hospital, describing how he fought to regain access to the cockpit while the aircraft was descending.
Netanyahu also invited Machchhar and Prime Minister Modi to participate in an Israeli Independence Day ceremony, where they would light a ceremonial flame.
Investigation continues
The UAE is leading the investigation, with Saudi authorities having conducted the initial probe following the emergency landing. Israel is also closely following the case because most of the passengers were Israeli and the flight was headed to Tel Aviv.
The accounts from Machchhar and the passengers, along with the newly surfaced video, provide a clearer picture of the chaos that unfolded after the cockpit attack.
For Machchhar, the moments remain fragmented because of the severity of his injuries. But his account shows that, despite being badly hurt and disoriented, he made one final attempt to reach the cockpit door — allowing passengers and crew members to intervene.
Investigators are now working to establish exactly what happened inside the cockpit, why the co-pilot attacked Machchhar and whether the alleged attempt to seize control of the aircraft involved any wider planning or direction.
