‘Very, very scary’: Passenger recalls fight to save flydubai flight after cockpit attack

In a harrowing incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a family found themselves in the front row as the captain bravely fought off a knife-wielding attacker mid-flight. The Manes family, consisting of Mr. Tzvika Manes, his wife, and their three daughters, were on their way from Tokyo to Tel Aviv when the terrifying attack occurred.

Mrs. Manes noticed the commotion in the cockpit and alerted her husband. "My wife, actually, she is the one that first saw and understood that something wrong was happening," Mr. Manes recounted. As the captain and co-pilot struggled against the assailant, an Israeli passenger and a reserve pilot intervened, successfully separating the assailant from the cockpit.

The Boeing 737 plummeted 14,000ft in just 30 seconds, causing panic as people were tossed around. The crew managed to tie the co-pilot with headphone cables, while the captain received first aid. Mr. Manes described the scene as "very, very scary," as the airplane continued to descend rapidly. The crew worked diligently to secure the cockpit and create a safe zone to neutralize the threat.

The Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed during the attack, is being hailed as a hero for his efforts in saving the lives of 174 passengers. The incident has led to an investigation by UAE authorities to determine if the attack was linked to terrorist activity.