Flydubai captain recounts axe attack by co‑pilot on Flight FZ1073

The 29‑year‑old Omani co‑pilot used an emergency crash axe to strike Captain Machchhar in the back of the head and also wounded his hand. The attack was carried out from behind the captain. Despite the blows, Captain Machchhar fought to stay conscious, repeatedly opened and closed the cockpit door, and eventually succeeded in unlocking it, allowing another pilot, cabin crew and passengers to enter the flight deck and restrain the attacker.

During the struggle the aircraft plunged about 17,000 feet in less than a minute. All 172 passengers and crew survived, and the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.

The co‑pilot has been detained in the United Arab Emirates and faces terrorism charges. The Emirati attorney general’s investigation concluded that he had planned a suicide attack intended to crash the aircraft into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, citing inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks.