How I Battled Through Attack to Avert Mid-Air Disaster- Flydubai Captain 

An injured Flydubai captain has revealed how he fought through severe wounds to regain access to the cockpit and help prevent a potential disaster after an alleged attack by his co-pilot.
Captain Smit Machchar, an Indian national, said he was attacked by his Omani co-pilot while flying Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Despite sustaining injuries, Machchar said he managed to reach and open the cockpit door, enabling other members of the crew and passengers to enter and intervene.

The captain disclosed the details while speaking from a hospital in the United Arab Emirates during a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Machchar said his 17 years of flying experience, including 11 years as a captain, helped him remain focused and assess the situation despite being injured.

According to him, he realised that opening the cockpit door was critical to preventing further danger to the passengers and crew.

The aircraft reportedly suffered a sharp loss of altitude during the confrontation before the situation was brought under control.

The flight, which was carrying more than 170 people, was subsequently diverted to Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Machchar has since received commendations from Indian and Israeli leaders for his actions during the incident.

Meanwhile, investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation, including the motive of the co-pilot.

Israeli authorities have made claims concerning alleged radicalisation, but investigators have yet to conclusively establish the full sequence of events or the motive behind the confrontation.