FlyDubai captain said he had “one more fight left in me” and opened cockpit door
FlyDubai hero captain Smit Machchhar described to Israeli prime minister Benjanim Netanyahu how the attack started and how he managed to finally open the cockpit door after nearly losing his vision under the co-pilot’s repeated blows.
Captain Smit Machchhar of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 shared his harrowing account of the incident with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The captain described feeling he had "one more fight left" in him when the co-pilot attacked him, causing the aircraft to enter a steep descent. Despite the co-pilot's persistent attempts to close the cockpit door, Machchhar managed to open it using the internal twist handle, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker and stabilize the plane.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Machchhar as a "hero with an unbelievable courage," an invitation for him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to receive a celebratory flame on Israel's next Independence Day. The UAE's Crown Prince and Minister of Defence also praised Machchhar's bravery, stating that he "embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life."
The co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, is under investigation for attempting a terrorist attack during the incident.
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