A Flydubai Pilot Described How He Opened The Cockpit Door After The Co-pilot Attacked Him

• 4.10.2026, 13:56

In less than a minute, the plane lost about 5,000 meters in altitude.

Flydubai Flight Captain Smith Machhar told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the details of the attack aboard Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. According to the pilot, the co-pilot first asked him to turn away so he could pray, and then suddenly attacked him. Machhar sustained serious injuries, his vision became blurred, and the plane began to lose altitude rapidly. There were 174 passengers and crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The plane lost about 5,000 meters in altitude in a matter of tens of seconds. Passengers and crew tried to gain access to the cockpit using the access code while the co-pilot kept the door locked. Machchar, despite his injuries, tried once again to open it from the inside. He managed to turn the handle and let people into the cockpit. Passengers and crew members subdued the attacker, after which the reserve pilots helped stabilize the aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. There were no fatalities.

UAE authorities stated that the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, describing the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. According to media reports, the attacker has been identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami. It is reported that he had previously been suspended from flying in Oman due to suspicions of extremist views; however, there has been no official confirmation of this information or of his identity. The investigation is ongoing.