An Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar of FlyDubai, recounted the tense moments that occurred on flight FZ1073, which was bound for Israel from Dubai. According to the pilot, the aircraft, carrying 182 passengers, plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds as the co‑pilot, 29‑year‑old Omani national Hammam al‑Hammami, attempted to take control. The descent was recorded by Flightradar24 during the flight over Saudi Arabia.
Captain Machchhar said he initially believed the aircraft had suffered damage, but the repeated blows to the back of his head made it clear that the problem lay with the co‑pilot. He was unable to see clearly after the first strikes and struggled to maintain control, realizing the plane was descending sharply. He managed to open the cockpit door by twisting the knob, despite the co‑pilot’s efforts to keep it closed, and was able to push the attacker out of the cockpit.
Passengers played a key role once the door was opened. One passenger, Yaniv Hayoun, ran to the cockpit as the plane nosedived and helped straighten the aircraft, while others restrained the attacker. The passengers’ quick actions are credited with preventing a catastrophic crash.
Captain Machchhar is now recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital with a bandaged head and tubes in his nose. He has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident. Investigations continue to determine the motive behind the attack and to review the background of the Omani co‑pilot, who was reportedly banned from flying by Omani authorities last year for radical views.
