'There was a lot of blood’: How passengers responded to the Flydubai cockpit attack

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an alleged cockpit attack sent the aircraft into a steep descent. What followed was a frantic effort by passengers, crew members, off-duty pilots and a dentist to regain control and get the Boeing 737 MAX safely on the ground.

The Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, was attacked by his Omani co-pilot, according to Israeli officials and passengers. Machchhar was injured but managed to open the cockpit door. That gave people outside a chance to get inside and confront the attacker.

The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely. There were 174 passengers and six crew members on board.

Captain Smit Machchhar opened cockpit door after attack

Machchhar was seriously injured during the alleged attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the captain “fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door” before passengers and crew entered the flight deck.

Also Read: Who is Captain Smit Machchhar? Indian Flydubai pilot injured in cockpit confrontation

Machchhar was later taken to a hospital in Tabuk. Indian officials said he was in stable condition.

Yaniv Hayun pulled attacker from flight controls

Yaniv Hayun was among the first passengers to reach the cockpit. A plumber by profession, he said he saw the suspected attacker at the controls.

“When I went in, I saw the terrorist on the controls, between the two seats. There were no pilots in the seats,” Hayun said as quoted in media reports.

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He pulled the attacker away from the controls and then tried to help keep the aircraft level.

Hayun had no formal flying training to draw on. “I watch Mayday,” he said, referring to the aviation disaster series he had seen on television.

Hayun also believed Machchhar had opened the cockpit door before collapsing.

Assaf Rajuan helped passengers restrain attacker

Assaf Rajuan, an insurance agency owner returning from a holiday in Thailand, said passengers initially had little idea what was happening.

“We heard screams from near the restroom. A girl's mother came out screaming, and we understood something had happened to the plane,” he said.

Also Read: Flydubai incident: Netanyahu praises stabbed pilot for ‘extraordinary bravery’

Rajuan joined others in the cockpit and helped restrain the attacker, reported NDTV.

“We also had help from some of the crew. We managed to keep the attacker neutralised for 50 minutes and land in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Zvika Manes recalls plane's steep descent

Zvika Manes, an executive with Bank Leumi’s underwriting company, was also among the passengers who entered the cockpit.

“There was a lot of blood. The plane plunged rapidly like you see in horror movies. There were screams,” Manes said.

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He said the attacker was “really trying to fly the aircraft toward the ground”. Passengers later used cables from the flight’s multimedia headphones to restrain him.

Dr Shota Musaev treats wounded captain

Dentist Shota Musaev initially rushed towards the cockpit. Once the attacker was restrained, he turned his attention to the injured captain.

“I was the only doctor on the plane. I managed to stop the bleeding,” Musaev said.

He said Machchhar had severe injuries to his head and hands but remained conscious and communicated with people around him.

Off-duty pilots help regain control

Two pilots travelling as passengers were also reported to have entered the cockpit during the emergency. Passenger accounts said they helped bring the aircraft up, stabilise it and guide it towards Saudi Arabia.

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Reports differed on their nationalities and the precise part each played. Their full role has not been independently established.

The aircraft eventually landed safely in Tabuk. The UAE aviation authority said the circumstances of the incident were under investigation.