Flydubai captain describes opening cockpit door after co-pilot attack

Captain Smit Machchhar of Flydubai has described how he managed to open the cockpit door after being attacked by his co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, enabling passengers and crew to intervene as the plane dived.

Machchhar spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call on October 2 from a hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he is recuperating from injuries. He appeared with bandages on his head and hands and described the moments he realized the aircraft was losing altitude.

The captain said he had collapsed to the cockpit floor after being hit several times. As the plane descended, he realized that opening the cockpit door could give others a chance to reach the attacker and help regain control. He said he got to the door and opened it while still being attacked. Passengers then entered the cockpit and helped subdue the co-pilot.

Machchhar said he had been flying for 17 years and a captain for 11 years. His account was the first detailed public description of the incident from the injured captain himself.

Flight dives thousands of feet during attack

The incident took place aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday as the Boeing 737 flew from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Tracking data showed the aircraft lost more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the cockpit emergency.

Reports on the number of people on board varied slightly. The Associated Press reported 182 people including eight crew members; Reuters reported that Machchhar told Modi the plane had 174 people on board.

The co-pilot allegedly assaulted Machchhar inside the cockpit before the rapid descent. Motive remained unclear as authorities investigated. Passengers rushed in and helped subdue the attacker. A second group of pilots who were traveling on the flight later helped take control of the aircraft.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and made an emergency landing. Authorities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel are investigating, with U.S. and Omani authorities also assisting, according to the Associated Press.

Passengers help retake control of plane

Machchhar's decision to open the cockpit door presented an opportunity for passengers to step in. Witnesses said passengers entered the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot while the plane was still in trouble. After the attacker was subdued, other pilots on board helped steady the flight. The aircraft eventually landed safely in Tabuk.

One passenger said he went into the cockpit during the descent and helped pull the aircraft's controls up. The attacker was also restrained by other passengers. The episode has drawn attention because aviation security systems are typically designed to keep unauthorized people out of the cockpit; here the perceived threat came from inside the cockpit itself.

Investigators are examining how the attack unfolded and whether it was linked to terrorism or advance planning, the Associated Press reported. UAE prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the circumstances and potential motive. Israeli officials said the alleged assailant, an Omani national, was arrested after the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. His motive has not been publicly identified.

Authorities investigate; pilot recovering

Machchhar is recovering in hospital in Abu Dhabi. India's embassy and consulate officials have been in touch with his family while authorities coordinated with counterparts in the UAE.

In his conversation with Modi, Machchhar became emotional recalling the incident. He said he knew he had to get back up because if the aircraft kept going down, passengers could die. "During the crisis, I recited Hanuman Chalisa and it gave me courage when I was injured," Machchhar told the prime minister.

Modi praised the captain's actions and wished him a speedy recovery. Officials in India, the UAE and Israel have publicly acknowledged the actions of Machchhar and the passengers who intervened. At the same time, investigators are working to determine precisely how the cockpit attack took place and why it happened. The UAE attorney general has ordered an investigation into the circumstances and any link to terrorist activity or advance planning.

The case may prompt aviation authorities to review procedures for identifying and responding to threats involving crew members. Aviation security systems have traditionally focused heavily on preventing passengers or outsiders from gaining access to cockpits. For now, Machchhar remains hospitalized as the inquiry continues. The immediate emergency was averted with the safe landing of Flight FZ1073.