Inside flydubai Flight 1073: captain tells of cockpit fight in world exclusive interview
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has spoken of the moment his co-pilot repeatedly struck him with an axe before sending their Boeing 737 plunging towards the Arabian Desert, with the intention of killing 172 people on board. In a world exclusive interview with The National from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, Capt Machchhar said the first officer sitting next to him for two hours had shown no sign…
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has recounted the harrowing incident aboard Flight 1073, a Boeing 737 that was hijacked by his co-pilot, who repeatedly attacked him with an axe before crashing the plane into the Arabian Desert. In an exclusive interview with The National from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, Capt Machchhar revealed that the first officer, who prosecutors say was radicalized by online Islamist content, showed no signs of unusual behavior prior to the attack.
The Boeing 737 plummeted 17,000 feet in less than a minute, sparing all 172 passengers and crew on board. Capt Machchhar, who suffered severe injuries, managed to open the cockpit door from the inside, preventing the aircraft from reaching its intended target. The first officer has been detained and faces terrorism charges. Capt Machchhar expressed gratitude for the UAE's support, stating that he received a call from President Sheikh Mohamed.
The incident has prompted questions about security measures in the aviation industry, particularly regarding the use of a cockpit fire axe.
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