Flydubai captain describes cockpit attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

The captain of a Flydubai flight has described how his first officer attacked him in the cockpit, and how he had to open the armoured cockpit door himself to get help.

Smit Machchhar was at the controls of a Boeing 737 Max 8 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September when his first officer attacked him, according to his account to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed in the United Arab Emirates. Indian news agency ANI published the roughly ten-minute video call.

Machchhar said he was wounded and realised the aircraft had begun to descend while he lay on the floor. The cockpit door can only be opened from outside if access is granted from inside, so no one could reach him. He said he endured the pain and opened the door, describing it as his only remaining chance. His faith gave him strength, he said.

The weapon used has not been officially confirmed. According to reports, the cockpit crash axe may have been used. In cabin video recorded shortly afterwards, the bleeding captain tells a passenger his colleague struck him many times.

Machchhar said he has been flying for 17 years, 11 of them as a captain. He spoke to Modi for about ten minutes, the account states.