Co‑pilot attacked captain with crash axe on Flydubai flight to Israel, triggering a chaotic, yet ultimately safe, emergency landing.
The U.A.E. prosecutor‑general reports that the incident happened 2½ hours into a 17,000‑ft flight, when the co‑pilot illegally seized a crash axe from the cockpit and struck Captain Smit Machchhar.
In the scramble that followed, passengers, many of whom were armed, overpowered the assailant. Flight attendants and crew members forced the co‑pilot out, and the captain regaining control achieved a safe descent to Dubai.
Captain Machchhar was flown to a hospital and subsequently air‑lifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in stable condition. The crew’s swift action prevented a higher‑profile disaster.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the attacker—an Omani national—had shouted “Kill me, kill me!” and displayed signs of suicidal intent. He added that the assailant had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, raising suspicions of a terrorism link.
U.A.E. authorities are launching a full investigation to unravel motives and potential terrorist involvement. They are also reviewing training and security protocols on U.A.E.‑managed airlines.
Indian officials praised Captain Machchhar’s courage, and the Indian embassy in the U.A.E. said the flight’s sole Indian crew member is recovering well.
While the cause of the attack remains unclear, this incident underscores the importance of cockpit security and the readiness of crew and passengers to intervene in situations threatening flight safety.
