Flydubai captain on the cockpit battle to save his plane

Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has spoken of the moment his co-pilot repeatedly struck him with an axe before sending the Boeing 737 plunging towards the Arabian desert, with the intention of killing 172 people on board. In a world exclusive interview with The National from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, Capt Machchhar said the first officer sitting next to him for two hours had shown no sign of what Emirati prosecutors say was a “premeditated terrorist plot” to hijack the aircraft. Flydubai Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged 17,000ft in less than a minute when the first officer attacked Capt Machchhar and seized control of the plane. All of the 172 passengers and crew on board the September 30 flight survived. Capt Machchhar has been hailed as a hero for getting the cockpit door, locked from the inside, open and allowing the attack to be foiled. The first officer is being detained in the UAE and faces terrorism charges. The statements made in this interview reflect the interviewee’s recollection of events, based on his personal experience and his perception of them at the time they occurred. Chapters 00:34 - Meet the pilot: Smit Machchhar 02:45 - The attack and fight to survive 10:53 - Engines fail as plane dives 14:05 - Rescue, recovery and the UAE as home 19:03 - Who landed the plane? 23:21 - Recovery, flying and safety lessons 26:38 - Family reunion and final thoughts All the latest news: https://www.thenationalnews.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalNews Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/TheNationalNews Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenationalnews.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thenationalnews