'Vision Narrowed, I Lost Consciousness': Capt Smit Machchhar Recalls flydubai Mid-Air Attack
Captain Smit Machchhar reveals the terrifying moments he fought off a co-pilot's axe attack to save a flydubai flight.
Captain Smit Machchhar, the man credited with preventing a massive aviation disaster, has opened up about the harrowing moments he faced during a flydubai mid-air attack on September 30. In a gripping account shared with UAE’s state-owned The National, the pilot described a brutal struggle for survival inside the cockpit as his own co-pilot attempted to bring down the aircraft.
A Sudden and Violent Ambush
The horror began without warning. Captain Machchhar recalled that the first blow was so unexpected that he initially thought a piece of the aircraft's structure had collapsed onto his head. The force of the impact nearly knocked him onto the control column.
It took only a few seconds for the terrifying reality to set in: the attack was coming from the person he trusted as his teammate. As the blows continued to rain down on his head, Machchhar fought to free himself from his seat belts, desperately trying to shield his head from the assault.
"While the first few blows came in, my vision… it was so narrow. I lost a lot. I was just looking (at) outlines," Machchhar told The National.
The Fight for the Cockpit Door
Despite the mounting trauma and narrowing vision, Captain Machchhar’s primary instinct was to save the 180 people on board. He managed to reach for the knob to unlock the cockpit door while screaming for help from his colleagues. Shortly after opening the door, the physical toll became too much, and he lost consciousness, falling face down in the cockpit.
The situation turned critical as the aircraft plunged 17,000 feet. Machchhar recalled the most chilling part of the experience: the sound and feeling of the engines spooling down, signaling a potential catastrophic crash.
Heroism Amidst Betrayal
The attacker, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, had used an axe in a suspected plot to crash the plane. However, because Machchhar had successfully unlatched the door before passing out, off-duty crew members and passengers were able to storm the cockpit and restrain al-Hammami.
With a hijacking distress signal transmitted, the passengers stepped in to help land the plane. The aircraft was diverted and made a successful emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Miraculously, all 180 occupants disembarked without injury.
Recovery and Recognition
Currently recovering at the Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Captain Machchhar admitted he had no prior suspicion of his co-pilot's intentions. He stated that had there been any warning signs on the ground, he would have spoken up immediately.
Despite the trauma, the captain insists his passion for flying remains intact. "Did my love die for aviation? Not at all. Not at all. I'm just glad that I was able to do my part," he said.
International Honors
The world has recognized the Captain's extraordinary bravery:
- Israel: President Isaac Herzog announced that he will confer Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism upon Machchhar.
- India: The Gujarat government has announced the Visisht Gujarat Garima Award in honor of his courage.