‘There’s an extra pilot’, ‘sit down!’ Videos capture flydubai flight chaos after cockpit stabbing
Videos show tense moments aboard flydubai flight after cockpit attack
Indiadailyupdate.com – New passenger-recorded videos have emerged from the flydubai aircraft where Indian captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured in an alleged attack by his co-pilot during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday. The confrontation inside the cockpit of Flight FZ1073 triggered a dramatic loss of altitude while more than 170 people were on board.
The aircraft was later diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Indian embassy officials in the UAE have said Machchhar is now stable, while authorities continue to monitor his condition and investigate the circumstances of the incident.
Passengers gather near cockpit
Footage filmed near the front of the cabin shows passengers gathering outside the cockpit as confusion spread through the aircraft. Some people moved toward the flight deck, while others called out directions and attempted to keep those around them calm.
Voices can be heard speaking in both English and Hebrew. In one moment, a person says that the co-pilot had attempted to bring down the aircraft.
“He tried to crash the plane.”
Other passengers can be heard calling for people inside the cockpit to remain calm, while repeated demands were made for someone to be removed from the area. Several people also urged passengers to return to their seats.
“Sit down!”
A crew member can be heard seeking urgent medical assistance as the situation unfolded.
“Doctor, is there a doctor?”
Another person appears to tell those nearby that an additional qualified pilot was available on the plane.
“There’s an additional pilot here.”
The videos show people moving in and out of the cockpit area. One man leaves with blood visible on his shirt, while another person appears to carry medical supplies toward the flight deck.
Captain reportedly opened access to cockpit
Machchhar was wounded during the confrontation but was able to activate the cockpit-door release, enabling passengers and crew members to enter and assist. They allegedly restrained the co-pilot after gaining access to the flight deck.
A plumber and pilots who happened to be travelling as passengers were among those who later helped bring the aircraft under control and stabilize the situation. Their intervention came during an emergency that combined a violent struggle in the cockpit with rapid changes in the plane’s altitude.
Flight-tracking information showed the aircraft falling almost 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before recovering. The flight then experienced further sharp altitude movements. Passengers described a frightening period in which the aircraft seemed to be out of control, dropping for roughly 20 to 30 seconds, recovering, and then descending again.
Such a sudden change in altitude can be deeply disorienting for people in the cabin. During a rapid descent, passengers may feel weightless or be thrown against restraints if they are not seated and buckled in. The footage also illustrates why crew instructions to sit down are critical during an airborne emergency, particularly when people are gathered in aisles near the cockpit.
Passenger praised after safe landing
After the aircraft reached Tabuk safely, a separate video showed one of the Israeli passengers involved in restraining the alleged attacker walking through the cabin. He raised his fist as passengers around him chanted a Hebrew expression of solidarity.
“Am Yisroel Chai!”
The phrase means “The people of Israel live.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later met people who intervened during the emergency and praised their actions for preventing what he described as another “9/11-style” tragedy. Among those recognized was Yaniv Hayun, who was seen in video released by Netanyahu’s office wearing the blood-stained shirt he had during the incident.
Hayun was also seen later at Ben Gurion Airport in the same shirt, highlighting the violent nature of the struggle described by passengers and officials.
Investigation continues into co-pilot’s actions
Israeli officials identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. Saudi authorities detained him after the emergency landing. The motive for the alleged attack, as well as the precise sequence of events inside the cockpit, remains under investigation.
The episode has drawn attention to the importance of cockpit security, trained crew responses and the availability of qualified aviation professionals during an unexpected crisis. In this case, passengers, cabin crew and off-duty pilots were able to assist an injured captain during a critical period before the flight was safely diverted.
Following the landing in Saudi Arabia, passengers remained there for more than 10 hours before continuing their journey to Israel on a replacement flydubai aircraft. The safe conclusion of the flight came after an ordeal marked by an alleged stabbing, a severe descent and an extraordinary effort by people on board to restore control.
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