4 hrs ago
Unidentified Pilots Helped Save Flydubai Flight After Cockpit Attack
A co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attacked the pilot with a crash axe.
The injured pilot managed to open the cockpit door.
Passengers helped hold the co-pilot back.
Two other pilots who were travelling on the plane rushed to help.
One went into the cockpit and took control of the aircraft, while the other helped secure the area.
A passenger said their quick actions helped prevent a tragedy.
The airline has not said who the two pilots are.
A co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with a crash axe aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073.
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was carrying 182 people when the cockpit attack occurred.
Machchhar opened the cockpit door while injured, and passengers helped restrain the co-pilot.
Two additional pilots travelling on duty rushed into the cockpit, with one taking control of the aircraft.
The airline has described the intervening pilots as on-duty crew members but has not publicly identified them.
- Who
- Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, passengers, and two unidentified pilots travelling on duty.
- What
- A co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar, and two travelling pilots intervened to take control of the aircraft.
- Where
- A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- When
- The incident took place days before the article was published; the article does not give an exact date.
- Why
- The articles describe the co-pilot's actions as an apparent attempt to crash the plane; the motive is not established in the account.
Public identification
Limited disclosure
Identity of the pilots who intervened
Public identification
A passenger described two travelling pilots taking action, including one who entered the cockpit to take control of the plane.
Limited disclosure
Flydubai has only described them as on-duty crew members travelling on the aircraft and has not publicly identified them.
Key facts
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Route
- Dubai to Tel Aviv
- People aboard
- 182
- Attacked pilot
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot
- Reported weapon
- A crash axe
- Intervening pilots
- Two on-duty pilots travelling on the flight; neither has been publicly identified
- Passenger quoted
- Daniel Schlichter, seated in the second row
Quotes
Daniel Schlichter
A passenger seated in the second row of the Flydubai flight.
“That's not on every flight; they bring two extra pilots. In this case, they brought them because they should have brought the plane back from Tel Aviv to Dubai, and this is the only reason they were there.”
livemint.com
“He acted really like a hero, taking over the plane and reacting like he understood exactly what was going on, and I think we owe him our lives no less than the other heroes that went on the flight.”
livemint.com
Sources
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