A violent incident on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel on September 30 forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The Boeing 737 MAX, carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, plunged 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after a confrontation erupted inside the cockpit. The aircraft was flying at over 30,000 feet when it suddenly began losing altitude, sending passengers into a state of panic.
According to Saudi Arabia's preliminary investigation, the first officer assaulted and injured Captain Smit Machchhar, leaving both pilots injured. The incident has sparked an investigation into what triggered the confrontation, including allegations of an attempted terrorist attack. Israeli officials have alleged that the Omani first officer stabbed Captain Machchhar and attempted to bring down the aircraft.
Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew to rush in and restrain the attacker. Machchhar described the moment he realised the aircraft was still going down, saying he had fallen to the cockpit floor after being attacked. He knew something had to be done, and he made a desperate decision to save those on board.
Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi that he had told himself to go for one last push to open the door from inside. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and help overpower the attacker. Passengers rushed towards the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot, while two other flydubai pilots on board helped regain control of the plane.
The plane had transmitted emergency signals during the ordeal, including the 7500 code used to indicate unlawful interference. The aircraft was eventually diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Machchhar and the alleged attacker were taken to hospital, with the captain later transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.
The reason for the confrontation remains one of the biggest unanswered questions, with various claims and possibilities emerging. A colleague has reportedly made claims about the alleged attacker's religious behaviour and possible radicalisation, while Israeli officials have raised the possibility that he intended to crash the aircraft. The UAE Attorney-General has ordered a formal investigation into the incident.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the incident as a possible terrorist attack, while UAE authorities investigate the circumstances and motive. Captain Machchhar's quick thinking and bravery have been credited with saving the lives of those on board. He said, "I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die."
Key points
- Captain Smit Machchhar's actions saved the lives of 174 passengers and eight crew members.
- The incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack.
- The UAE Attorney-General has ordered a formal investigation into the circumstances and motive behind the confrontation.
