Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe, UAE official says
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe and tried to take control of the aircraft, according to the UAE prosecutor general. The plane plunged more than 17,000ft, but passengers entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker, and other crew members landed the aircraft safely.
Machchhar, who was stabbed, said he was injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the plane was descending and made one last effort to open the door. He was taken to hospital and is reported to be stable and recovering well. Investigations into the incident and its motives are ongoing; the attacker was identified as an Omani national, while claims about his motives have been made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe.
- The plane plunged more than 17,000ft before landing safely.
- Passengers helped subdue the attacker; investigations continue.
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Flydubai is an airline based in Dubai. A flight to Tel Aviv experienced an emergency when the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The aircraft descended significantly during the incident before other crew members and passengers intervened.
The captain, Smit Machchhar, was injured in the attack and taken to hospital. The co-pilot is an Omani national, and authorities are investigating what motivated the incident.
Attacks on flight crew are rare but represent a serious threat to aviation safety. The incident has drawn attention from officials in multiple countries as they work to understand what happened and why.