HighLights
  1. Indian Captain Smit Machchhar injured in alleged cockpit attack.
  2. Passengers and off-duty pilots intervened, restraining the attacker.
  3. Flight FZ1073 safely diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

A routine flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a mid-air emergency on Wednesday after an alleged cockpit attack left the Indian captain seriously injured and sent the aircraft into a steep descent over Saudi Arabia.

Flight FZ1073, carrying 174 people, eventually landed safely at Tabuk Airport after passengers and crew members intervened. Israeli and Indian leaders have since praised Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during the crisis.

Captain Opens Cockpit Door Despite Injuries

According to accounts cited by Israeli officials, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Machchhar was seriously injured but reportedly managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing.

ALSO READ: flydubai Scare: Omani Co-Pilot Who Tried Crashing Israel-Bound Flight Was Very Religious, Stayed Away From Women

That gave passengers and crew access to the cockpit, where several people helped restrain the suspected attacker. The aircraft had also experienced a dramatic loss of altitude, with flight-tracking data indicating a drop of around 14,300 feet in less than a minute.

Two off-duty flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers subsequently helped take control of the aircraft and divert it to Tabuk, where it landed safely.

Plumber Yaniv Hayun

Along with Machchhar, several other passengers on the flight were also termed as ‘heroes’ as they played a vital role in saving the flight from the crash. Among those who intervened was Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun, who later met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after returning to Israel.

Hayun said he entered the cockpit and found the suspected attacker between the pilot seats, allegedly trying to interfere with the aircraft's controls. He pulled the man away before helping stabilise the aircraft.

According to Hayun, he used his understanding of aircraft controls to pull back on the yoke after seeing the plane's condition. 

When Netanyahu asked him, “You pulled them?” Hayun replied: “Yes, I watch ‘Air Crash Investigation.’”

Businessman Assaf Rajuan

Another passenger, Assaf Rajuan, described the moment the aircraft suddenly began plunging. He said passengers heard screams before realising that something had gone seriously wrong. 

Rajuan was among those who entered the cockpit and helped overpower the attacker. He said passengers and crew members then kept the suspected assailant restrained for around 50 minutes until the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. Rajuan is an insurance agency owner.

Banker Zvika Manes

Zvika Manes, another passenger who intervened, said there was blood inside the cockpit as passengers tried to stop the suspected attacker.

Manes reportedly used cables from the headphones provided on the flight to help restrain the man after he was overpowered. He recalled the aircraft plunging rapidly while passengers were thrown around the cabin and screaming. Manes is the CEO of Bank Leumi's underwriting company 

The passenger accounts provide a picture of a chaotic struggle that unfolded while the aircraft was still airborne. However, authorities are continuing to investigate the exact sequence of events and the motive behind the alleged attack.

Dentist Shota Musaev

Dentist Shota Musaev was another passenger who responded during the emergency. After helping deal with the attacker, he turned his attention to Machchhar, who had suffered severe injuries.

ALSO READ: 'I Don't Want Others To Know I'm Pilot Outside Cockpit': How Textile Engineer Smit Machchhar Became Flydubai Captain

Musaev said the captain was bleeding heavily from his head and hands and that he was the only doctor on board. He treated the wounds and worked to control the bleeding until the aircraft landed.

“He was covered in cuts. His head and his hands were practically sliced open, almost severed in two. He was in serious condition, not critical perhaps, but serious because of the blood loss,” the dentist said.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk following the emergency landing. India's embassy in Riyadh said he was receiving medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.

The motive behind the cockpit incident remains under investigation. flydubai has urged against speculation while authorities examine what happened aboard FZ1073 and the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.

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