Stories
Flydubai Pilot Recounts Co-Pilot Axe Attack Mid-Flight
- •Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar recalled how his Omani co-pilot, Hamad al-Hammami, repeatedly struck him with a crash axe in an alleged hijacking attempt on a flight carrying 172 people.
- •Machchhar suffered severe injuries and briefly lost consciousness before managing to unbuckle his seat belt and scream for help as chaos erupted in the cockpit.
- •Passengers and cabin crew restrained the attacker, while two off-duty Flydubai pilots took control of the aircraft and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •Addressing reports that an Israeli plumber named Yaniv Hayoun helped subdue the co-pilot and stop the plane, Machchhar stated he was unaware of the plumber story and focused entirely on surviving.
- •The captain is currently recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, with the Indian Embassy reporting that he is making steady progress.
Key Questions Answered
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar was repeatedly struck with a crash axe by his Omani co-pilot, Hamad al-Hammami, in an alleged attempt to bring down the aircraft. Despite severe injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and cabin crew to restrain the attacker while reserve pilots safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Captain Machchhar stated that he was unfamiliar with the reports regarding Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun, who claimed he entered the cockpit and helped subdue the co-pilot. Machchhar explained that his entire energy and focus during the harrowing ordeal were directed toward staying alive, surviving the assault, and keeping control of the situation rather than observing surrounding events.
UAE investigators classified the incident as a dangerous terrorist act involving Omani co-pilot Hamad al-Hammami. Reports indicated he had previously been barred from flying by Oman over extremist concerns before joining flydubai. Following the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, he was taken into custody in the UAE as authorities launched a formal criminal and air accident investigation.
