Flydubai captain says copilot asked to pray then struck him from behind; describes exactly how he opened cockpit door

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Flydubai Captain Details Cockpit Axe Attack

   The captain of a Flydubai flight targeted in an attempted hijacking has detailed how his Omani co-pilot used a request to pray as a ruse before striking him from behind with an emergency axe. Indian Captain Smit Machcchar recounted the cockpit struggle to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explaining the sequence of events and how he opened the cockpit door. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have categorized the episode as an attempted terrorist attack using a crash axe. Multiple international jurisdictions are currently investigating the incident and the background of the co-pilot.

   Why it matters

   The incident has triggered severe international security concerns regarding airline safety clearances and cockpit access protocols. Investigators are examining how the co-pilot obtained the weapon and whether systemic vulnerabilities allowed an individual with alleged hostile intent to board the flight to Israel. Australian authorities are also probing the co-pilot's potential links to their country as the investigation expands.

   What is confirmed

   • The Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit's crash axe in an attempted terrorist attack, according to the U.A.E.
   • Indian Captain Smit Machcchar recounted that the co-pilot asked to pray before striking him from behind with an axe.
   • Australian authorities are investigating the Flydubai co-pilot's links to the country.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Israeli sources suggest the co-pilot probably acted alone in the attempted hijacking.

   What to watch next

   • Findings from Australian authorities regarding the co-pilot's local links
   • Official determinations on how the co-pilot was cleared for the flight route
   • Further security assessments from international aviation and intelligence agencies
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. WSJ — FlyDubai Co-Pilot Used Crash Ax in Attack, Says U.A.E.
   2. NBC News — Flydubai pilot attacked captain with cockpit’s crash axe in attempted terrorist attack, UAE says
   3. AP News — Who are the mystery men who stepped in to keep the FlyDubai plane from crashing?
   4. BBC — Australian authorities investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country
   5. The Times of Israel — Flydubai captain says copilot asked to pray then struck him from behind; describes exactly how he opened cockpit door
   6. The New York Times — Who Were the Pilots on the FlyDubai Flight?
   7. CNN — Co-pilot accused of trying to hijack Flydubai plane probably acted alone, Israeli sources say
   8. www.cbsnews.com — FlyDubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into airport, shouldn't have been cleared to fly to Israel, sources say
   9. www.dailymail.com — Flydubai co-pilot asked captain to pray - then hit him over the back of the head with an axe: 'The blows kept coming, one after another'
   10. www.indiatoday.in — Flydubai Omani co-pilot used prayer as ruse for attack ...
   11. www.livemint.com — ‘Co-pilot got up to pray, then.’: Indian pilot Machchhar ...
   confidence 95%