Flydubai captain recounts axe attack by co-pilot during attempted hijack
Captain Smit Machchhar said co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami asked him to pray before striking him with a crash axe on flight FZ1073, which then plunged before passengers subdued the attacker.
On flight FZ1073 bound for Tel Aviv, co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami asked Captain Smit Machchhar to pray and shortly thereafter struck him on the back of the head with the cockpit’s crash axe. The aircraft descended 14,000 ft in a 29-second plunge, prompting a frantic struggle in the cockpit. Passengers and crew intervened, restraining al-Hammami and restoring command of the plane, which was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, for an emergency landing.
Machchhar sustained serious injuries and was treated in hospital, receiving a visit from Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Al-Hammami remains in custody, with Saudi officials conducting questioning. The captain later provided a detailed account of the attack to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Why it matters
The incident shows how passenger intervention prevented a potential mass-casualty hijacking on an international flight.
How this story developed
- Oct 1 Israeli carriers seek clearance to restart Dubai routes after flydubai attack
- Oct 2 Israeli carriers have formally requested clearance to restart Dubai routes.
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