Can't accept death: Smit Machchhar recalls the ordeal that nearly cost him his life

Captain Smit Machchhar, a flydubai pilot who survived a violent attack inside the cockpit of a passenger aircraft, has recalled how he struggled to remain conscious and fought to survive despite suffering serious injuries to his head.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Machchhar describes the moments after he was struck on the head, his struggle to stay conscious and the realisation that he had to act to save himself and others on board.

“I realised I have to do something. You can’t die like this. I can’t accept my death,” he said, recalling the ordeal.

Speaking to Sky News Arabia, the pilot described his response during the attack as a survival instinct that kicked in for both him and the passengers. He called the experience “a miracle”.

‘I WAS IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS’

Recounting the incident in the Sky News Arabia interview, Machchhar said the flight had been proceeding normally when his co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, said he wanted to pray.

Machchhar said he turned his attention away out of respect while his colleague was praying. He was then struck on the head.

“I was doing my job, there was a hard hit on my head,” he recalled, describing the impact as extremely powerful.

The pilot said he was in and out of consciousness following the attack. At one point, he feared he would not survive. He also recalled the panic after the cockpit door opened, with passengers screaming.

Machchhar said he would always remember how another colleague stepped in and helped manage the situation, describing the intervention as something he would carry with him for the rest of his life.

PILOT RECALLED FIGHTING TO REGAIN CONTROL

Machchhar had earlier recounted the incident during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his hospital bed. He said he was struck repeatedly on the back of his head and initially thought something catastrophic had happened to the aircraft.

He later realised that he was being attacked. His vision became blurred, and he struggled to understand what was happening as the aircraft appeared to descend rapidly.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, although he believed it was subsequently closed again. Lying on the cockpit floor and hearing passengers scream, he realised he had one more chance to act.

“I had that one last fight left in me,” he told Netanyahu.

ALL 180 PEOPLE ON BOARD EVACUATED SAFELY

The incident involved co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, who attacked Machchhar with a crash axe. UAE authorities have been investigating the incident as an attempted hijacking.

Machchhar suffered serious injuries to his head, neck and hands. Cabin crew, passengers and off-duty pilots intervened and restrained the attacker.

The aircraft was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 180 people on board were evacuated safely, and no deaths were reported.

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