Hero Indian pilot fought through fractured skull to prevent flydubai hijack

Fresh details have emerged on what unfolded inside the cockpit of the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight. Sources said Indian captain Smit Machchhar suffered a fractured skull after being attacked by the Omani co-pilot.

Indian captain Smit Machchhar fought through a fractured skull and severe head injuries after being attacked by the Omani co-pilot to thwart an apparent attempt by him to take control of the flydubai aircraft and crash it in Israel. Sources said Machchhar, 38, was left with a fractured skull and injuries to his hand after the co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, struck him from behind with a crash axe in the cockpit on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

Despite the injuries, blood loss and intense pain, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door twice. In the first instance, Machchhar said he was unable to see and opened the door, but it was shut by the co-pilot. With severely blurred vision, he made one final push that eventually allowed passengers to enter the cockpit and overpower the co-pilot.

The move proved to be crucial in preventing a major disaster. Investigators said al-Hammami planned to carry out a 9/11-style attack by crashing the plane into a skyscraper in Tel Aviv.

The aircraft, carrying over 170 passengers, was eventually stabilised by two off-duty pilots who were on the flight (FZ1073). It landed safely in Saudi Arabia, but not before it plunged more than 17,000 feet in two minutes as chaos ensued inside the cockpit.

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