Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:31am on 04 Oct 2026,Sunday India Global
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has recalled the moment his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit of flight FZ1073. Speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the 39-year-old said the Omani co-pilot stood up to pray, and he looked ahead out of respect. "Suddenly, after about four or five minutes, there was a big blow to the back of my head," he said. He first feared the aircraft was damaged, then realised the blows came from inside the cockpit. Though injured, he reached the door's twist knob and opened it, letting crew and passengers intervene and save all 174 on board. (PC: X)
