Flydubai hero pilot who saved flight when ‘terrorist co-pilot attacked him and tried to crash the plane’ shows off sickening head scars as he accepts UAE bravery medal
Captain Smit Machchhar has received the UAE’s First Class Order of Zayed II for helping stop an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to seize a Flydubai aircraft. Despite suffering a serious head injury, he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to help restrain the co-pilot and prevent the plane from reaching its alleged target.
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September when Hamam al-Hammami, 29, allegedly attacked Machchhar with a crash axe. The aircraft lost 14,000 feet in 29 seconds before the crew regained control and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The UAE attorney-general said al-Hammami confessed and had developed extremist views; Machchhar’s fellow crew members also received bravery medals.
In short
- Captain Machchhar received a UAE bravery medal.
- Crew and passengers helped stop an alleged cockpit takeover.
- The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Explained simply
Flydubai is an airline based in the United Arab Emirates, and its pilots share responsibility for operating an aircraft safely. The cockpit is normally kept separate from the passenger cabin so the flight crew can manage the plane without disruption.
On a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Captain Smit Machchhar was at the controls with co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami. Saudi Arabia is between the two cities, and the aircraft landed in the Saudi city of Tabuk after an emergency.
The case involves allegations of an attack inside the cockpit and the crew’s response. It also raises questions about aviation security and how airlines and authorities handle threats to passengers and crew.