Dramatic new footage from inside a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai has exposed the sheer chaos that erupted after the co-pilot allegedly launched a violent attack on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar in a desperate attempt to bring down the commercial aircraft. Broadcast by Israel’s Channel 12, the passenger-recorded video captures screaming travelers, urgent calls for assistance, and the heroic sequence of events where the injured captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker and avert a major aviation disaster.
Chaos Inside the Cabin and Rapid Intervention
The newly surfaced recording captures frantic moments inside the passenger cabin as travelers realized a life-or-death crisis was unfolding at the front of the aircraft. Shouts of “he tried to crash the plane” can be heard echoing across the aisles, referring to the radicalized co-pilot who attacked Captain Machchhar mid-flight. Passengers near the front urged others to “take him out” while cabin crew instructed frightened commuters to stay seated. Seeking medical aid amidst the panic, passengers called for a doctor, prompting Dr. Shota Musayev, an Israeli dentist on board, to rush forward. Meanwhile, travelers desperately inquired whether another qualified pilot was on the flight to secure control.
Injured Captain Unlocks Cockpit Door to Prevent Tragedy
The footage highlights the terrifying aftermath inside the cockpit corridor, showing Captain Smit Machchhar lying on the floor, covered in blood. Despite sustaining severe physical trauma, Captain Machchhar fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door from within while fighting for his life. This pivotal act allowed passengers and flight attendants to breach the flight deck, restrain the rogue co-pilot, and regain command. Visibly injured on the video, Machchhar recounts that the co-pilot “hit me so many times,” adding that while his hand suffered serious damage, he maintained partial movement.
Attacker Restrained Using Earphone Cords and Cuffs
According to official statements, including comments by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the crew and passengers subdued the suspect using improvised restraints. Travelers tied the attacker using earphone cords before securing him with plastic plastic cuffs. Netanyahu stated that preliminary investigations suggest the co-pilot had undergone extremist radical indoctrination and intended to commit suicide by crashing the plane, describing the captain’s resilience as an extraordinary act of heroism that prevented another catastrophic crash. Following the mid-air struggle, the aircraft executed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where law enforcement officers boarded and took the suspect into custody. Captain Machchhar is currently undergoing medical treatment in the UAE, where Indian officials confirm he is in stable condition and recovering well.
