Flydubai captain describes blocking axe blows as co-pilot attacked him

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Capt Smit Machchhar said he screamed for help as he reached to open the cockpit door on flight FZ1073</p><p>The captain of a flydubai flight who was attacked by a co-pilot who intended to crash the plane has described ⁠blocking axe blows to his head and screaming for help as he reached to open the cockpit door.</p><p>Capt Smit ⁠Machchhar <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/02/indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-recalls-flydubai-cockpit-attack">has been hailed ⁠as a ​hero</a> for his role in averting disaster on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv last month, helping to thwart what the UAE ⁠attorney general has said was an attempted suicide attack by the co-pilot who had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/09/flydubai-co-pilot-planned-suicide-attack-on-israeli-airport-uae-prosecutors-say">intended to crash the plane</a> into Ben Gurion airport.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/flydubai-captain-smit-machchhar-blocking-axe-blows-flight-fz1073">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.