Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says
A Flydubai co-pilot attempted to hijack a flight to Israel by attacking the captain with a crash axe, leading to a significant altitude drop before passengers intervened. The attacker, identified as an Omani national, had a history of radical views, and the incident is currently under investigation.
Why it matters
This incident raises critical questions regarding aviation security, pilot vetting processes, and the safety of international air travel.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ella Kipling Embassy of India in Israel The Indian government has praised captain Smit Machchhar for his "immense courage" during the attack The co-pilot who attempted to take control of a Flydubai plane travelling to Israel attacked the pilot with a crash axe, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general has said.
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying more than 170 people plunged 17,000ft (5,200m) two and a half hours into its journey, before passengers managed to overpower the attacker and successfully take control of the plane.
Capt Smit Machchhar said he was lying on the floor injured when he realised the plane was sinking and he had to act, explaining: "I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside", which allowed the passengers in.
Two reserve pilots then landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in