Captain Smit Machchhar, who survived an alleged attack by his co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight in September, has spoken about the terrifying moments inside the cockpit and praised the colleague who took control of the aircraft to prevent a possible disaster.
In a trailer for his interview with Sky News Arabia, Machchhar recalled how he feared for his life after being struck with a crash axe. The incident occurred on September 30, when Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
“I realised for a moment that I wouldn't survive,” Machchhar can be heard saying in the interview, marking his first interaction with English media since the incident.
‘Smit, do something. You can’t die like this’
Machchhar was seriously wounded in the alleged attack by his Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami. Recalling the moments when he was fighting to survive, the Indian pilot described how he tried to push himself to act despite the danger.
“There was a moment when I told myself ‘Smit, do something. You can’t die like this',” he said.
He also began to realise how urgently something needed to be done to prevent the situation from worsening.
“There was a moment when I realised that if something is not done now, then..” he said, leaving the sentence incomplete.
Colleague took control as passengers intervened
Machchhar praised the colleague who took over the aircraft's controls after he collapsed on the cockpit floor. The plane reportedly plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident.
“My colleague who took control and saved the day is commendable, It is something that I will keep with me till I die,” he said.
Passengers also intervened after the cockpit door was opened, helping restrain the co-pilot. Machchhar recalled the panic and screaming on board as his colleagues and some passengers entered the cockpit and found him lying face down.
Another co-pilot and a dentist provided medical assistance, while a second set of pilots took control of the aircraft.
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was later shifted to Abu Dhabi in the UAE, where he is undergoing treatment and making a steady recovery.