Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Security Failures Allowed FlyDubai Pilot Into Cockpit
A FlyDubai plane was flying to Tel Aviv when something frightening happened in the cockpit.
The captain said his co-pilot left to pray.
He said the co-pilot then hit him several times with an emergency ax.
The captain managed to open the cockpit door.
A group of rescuers came in and stopped the co-pilot.
They also helped bring the plane out of a dangerous dive.
The report says security failures let the co-pilot get into the cockpit, but it does not explain those failures.
Captain Smit Machchhar said his co-pilot left the cockpit to pray during FlyDubai Flight 1073 to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar said the co-pilot later struck him several times with an onboard emergency ax.
The captain opened the cockpit door, allowing rescuers to enter and subdue the co-pilot.
Rescuers helped recover the aircraft from a dangerous dive.
The account describes multiple security failures but provides no further details about them.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, his co-pilot, and a group of rescuers aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073.
- What
- The captain said the co-pilot struck him with an onboard emergency ax; rescuers subdued the co-pilot and helped recover the plane from a dive.
- When
- A little over halfway through the flight, described as occurring last week; no exact date is provided.
- Where
- Aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073, traveling to Tel Aviv.
- Why
- The article describes security failures that allowed the co-pilot into the cockpit, but does not specify what caused the attack.
Reported account
Other perspectives
Cockpit incident
Reported account
The account attributes the incident details to Captain Smit Machchhar, who said the co-pilot struck him with an emergency ax after leaving to pray.
Other perspectives
No response from the co-pilot, FlyDubai, or other parties is included in the supplied account.
Security failures
Reported account
The headline says multiple security failures allowed the pilot into the cockpit.
Other perspectives
The article excerpt does not identify the specific failures or provide an alternative explanation.
- Airline
- FlyDubai
- Flight
- 1073
- Destination
- Tel Aviv
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar
- Reported weapon
- An onboard emergency ax
- Timing
- A little over halfway into the trip
- Outcome
- Rescuers subdued the co-pilot and helped recover the aircraft from a dangerous dive