Captain Smit Machchhar told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Flydubai co-pilot struck him from behind while he looked away out of respect, then repeatedly beat him as he tried to open the cockpit door. Machchhar said he managed to open the door a second time, allowing passengers to overpower the attacker. The account, reported by Amit Segal on X, provides the most detailed description yet of the 30 September attempted hijacking.
New details from Captain Smit Machchhar's conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reported by Amit Segal and multiple outlets, reveal that the co-pilot, Omani national Ali al-Hammami, repeatedly struck Machchhar with an emergency window-breaking axe kept in the cockpit. Machchhar said the co-pilot stood to pray; he looked away out of respect, then felt heavy blows. After a struggle, Machchhar opened the cockpit door on a second attempt, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker.
The Zioneer reported at 20:50 Jerusalem that Prime Minister Netanyahu invited Captain Machchhar to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day ceremony. At 21:03 Jerusalem, ynet reported that the captain described being struck after the co-pilot asked to pray. At 21:28 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the weapon was an emergency axe, not a knife as initially suggested, and at 21:48 Jerusalem confirmed the conversation and invitation.
The Zioneer has previously reported that al-Hammami confessed to intending to crash the aircraft into Israeli territory. Investigations have uncovered a digital trail linking him to extremist content, including al-Qaeda imagery on a deleted LinkedIn profile (The Zioneer, Oct 2, 04:11 Jerusalem; Oct 3, 19:31 Jerusalem). Captain Machchhar has criticized Flydubai's recruitment and monitoring standards, alleging the airline 'hired a terrorist' (The Zioneer, Oct 1, 01:15 Jerusalem).
What remains open: The international investigation is ongoing, with Israeli, Emirati, and Saudi authorities. The timeline for potential charges against the co-pilot and any resulting aviation security reforms have not been announced.
7 developments
- StrongThe Zioneer names the five individuals who subdued a cockpit attacker midair
- StrongFlydubai, UAE authorities confirm co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe
- StrongDubai Crown Prince tells Flydubai captain: 'We are proud that he is part of our team'
- StrongFlydubai passengers tell New York Post: crew asked us to release terrorist co-pilot
Source and signal
- Open-source intake