Flydubai co-pilot attacks captain with crash axe on Tel Aviv flight; plane lands at Tabuk

A frightening incident took place mid-air on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying as FZ1073, took off on September 30 with 174 passengers and six crew members on board.

According to information from international investigating agencies, the flight's 29-year-old Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, had plotted to crash the aircraft into the high-rises of Tel Aviv, in an attack like 9/11. Indian chief pilot Captain Smit Machchhar foiled the attempt at the risk of his own life.

The flight began normally and nobody initially suspected al-Hammami's behaviour. But when the aircraft was over Saudi Arabia and Jordan, the co-pilot pretended to get up from his seat on the pretext of offering prayers. Captain Machchhar was looking ahead at the time. Al-Hammami then struck him hard on the head from behind with the cockpit's emergency crash axe. The captain was seriously injured and his vision went dark.

The co-pilot then took control of the aircraft and began taking it down steeply. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 dropped about 16,000 feet within seconds. During the descent, al-Hammami also tried to shut down both engines so that the plane would fall straight onto the ground or a building.

According to a social media post, about 90 minutes after take-off FZ1073 sent the 7700 (general emergency) code and then 7500 (unlawful interference). Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft descending from about 34,000 feet to roughly 17,000 feet in a minute or two, with its speed rising from 411 knots to about 600 knots. These figures come from public flight tracking and vary between sources. The post also said Israeli fighter jets were scrambled and Israeli airspace was briefly closed. Flydubai acknowledged an "incident" and said all passengers were safe. According to the post, passengers described screaming, blood in the cockpit and a pilot being stabbed. It added that accounts differ on who stabbed whom. Israeli officials say a pilot may have tried to bring the aircraft down, but neither the airline nor any investigation has confirmed this. The motive is not yet known.

Badly injured and drenched in blood, Captain Machchhar used his remaining strength before losing consciousness and cleverly opened the cockpit door from inside. As soon as it opened, other crew members and some brave passengers rushed into the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot. With the help of another reserve pilot travelling on the flight, control of the falling aircraft was regained in just 30 seconds and it was stabilised in the air. A few more seconds of delay could have led to a major disaster.

The pilots then sent an emergency message, changed course and made a safe emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities immediately detained the accused co-pilot. Flydubai sent another aircraft to Tabuk, which took all the passengers safely to Tel Aviv.

According to investigating agencies, questions had been raised earlier about al-Hammami's radical views and his past. He has for now been taken to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and international security agencies are investigating the matter in depth. Investigators from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel will examine the flight recorders and passengers' statements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have warmly praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery.