Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar said he had “one more fight left” when he made a final attempt to regain control of the cockpit during an attack that left him badly injured and put Flight FZ1073 in danger.
Machchhar described the ordeal in an emotional telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, released by Netanyahu’s office on Saturday evening. Speaking from his hospital bed, the captain explained how he fought through serious injuries and badly blurred vision before finally opening the cockpit door and allowing passengers to enter.
The captain told Netanyahu that the incident began after the co-pilot asked to pray in the cockpit. Machchhar said he did not regard the request as unusual and chose not to look back out of respect.
“A few minutes later, I felt a strong impact and thought something had happened to the plane. But then I was hit again and realized it was him,” Machchhar said.
He explained that he managed to open the cockpit door once, but the co-pilot closed it again before the captain fell to the floor. As the attack continued, Machchhar’s vision became severely blurred and he became aware that the aircraft was entering a steep descent.
He tried repeatedly to reopen the door while passengers outside attempted to gain access using the cockpit door’s emergency code. Netanyahu asked whether the door was secured by a pin mechanism. Machchhar explained that from inside the cockpit, the door was operated with a twist handle, while passengers outside could use a code to request access.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a conversation with the Indian pilot from the flight from Dubai, Captain Smit Machchhar:
“You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world. I invite Prime Minister @NarendraModi and you to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day.” 🇮🇱🇮🇳During the emotional conversation that took place this evening, the Prime Minister asked Captain Machchhar how it all started, and Machchhar revealed new details about the terrifying moments in the cockpit.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 3, 2026
The captain recalled hearing the sound of the aircraft descending rapidly and passengers screaming. Realising the seriousness of the situation, he reached for the internal handle one more time.
With what he described as a “sharp, quick turn,” Machchhar managed to open the door. Passengers then entered the cockpit, subdued the co-pilot and helped bring the aircraft back under control.
Machchhar told Netanyahu that he had reached a point where he felt he had “one more fight left in me.” His account offered a first-person description of the moments in which the aircraft’s passengers and crew were facing an unfolding emergency inside the cockpit.
Netanyahu praised Machchhar’s actions and called him a hero, saying his courage represented both India and Israel. The Israeli prime minister also invited Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a ceremonial flame during Israel’s next Independence Day celebrations, an honour generally associated with Israeli citizens.
“You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and you are a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told him, while also wishing him a full and speedy recovery.
Israeli Ambassador to the UAE Yossi Shelley was present at Machchhar’s bedside during the call. Shelley and Netanyahu also invited the captain and his family to visit Israel when his condition allows.
Machchhar has received recognition from the United Arab Emirates as well. Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid visited him in hospital and praised his actions during the incident.
حمدان بن محمد يزور طيار “فلاي دبي” ويشيد بشجاعته.
https://t.co/HvUKwmqsM5 https://t.co/6V6ilgYA6n— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 3, 2026
Sheikh Hamdan said Machchhar had demonstrated courage, responsibility and concern for human life, adding that the UAE was proud to have him as part of its team.
The incident has also prompted further scrutiny of the co-pilot. British newspaper The Telegraph reported on Sunday that the co-pilot, identified by multiple media outlets as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, had studied aviation at Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom.
The Telegraph reported that al-Hammami had made social media comments during his university years in which he expressed hostility towards women, including remarks advocating violence against them. The newspaper also reported that he appeared to express support for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The reports about his background emerged as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack. The UAE’s prosecutor general said on Saturday that the co-pilot used a crash axe against Machchhar and attempted to carry out what authorities described as a terrorist attack.
UAE presidential diplomatic adviser Dr Anwar Gargash also described the incident as a “dangerous terrorist act.”
The captain’s account provides a clearer picture of how close the flight came to disaster. After being attacked, injured and temporarily unable to see clearly, Machchhar still managed to reach the cockpit door and open it, creating the opportunity for passengers to intervene.
His account also highlights the importance of the passengers’ actions once the door was opened. Their intervention helped subdue the co-pilot and allowed control of the aircraft to be restored.
