Fly Dubai flight number 1073, which took off from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, turned into a deadly incident. This flight, with over 170 passengers, departed at 3:05 AM local time (11:05 PM EDT) and reached an altitude of 34,000 feet.
Sudden Attack in the Cockpit
At 5:21 AM, the co-pilot, an Omani citizen whose name has not been disclosed, attacked the main pilot, Smith Machchar, who is an Indian citizen, with a tool described as an axe or knife. This attack caused the plane to plunge severely, dropping over 14,000 feet in 30 seconds, while passengers were thrown from their seats in panic.
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Despite severe injuries to his hands and head, Machchar was able to send three alerts to the ground: the first alert 7700 to declare a general emergency, then 7500 to indicate unlawful interference, and again 7700. He also managed to open the cockpit door and fall into the front section of the plane while still struggling with his colleague.
Rescue of Passengers and Investigation into the Attack
Two passengers and a crew member subdued the attacker and tied his hands with passenger headphone cables. Fortunately, two reserve pilots were also on the flight, who went to the cockpit, took control, and safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The main pilots were taken to a local hospital, and Machchar received treatment.
Investigations into the motives of the attacker are ongoing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that it is still unclear whether the co-pilot acted in coordination with Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump also hinted at a possible connection between the attacker and Iran.
Machchar has been recognized internationally as a hero. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his bravery, stating that Machchar fought courageously without regard for his own life and prevented a similar attack to September 11.
This incident raises questions about flight security and the processes for selecting and screening pilots. Was this attack a result of a failure in security systems?
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