FlyDubai flight passenger details treating wounded pilot after tying up suspect

Passengers Acted Quickly After Mid-Flight Attack Leaves FlyDubai Captain Injured

Tyunews.com – A FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was brought under control after passengers intervened during an alleged attack in the cockpit, helping an injured captain and restraining a suspect as the aircraft dropped sharply in altitude.

Israeli dentist Dr. Shota Musaev, who was seated in row 13, said the emergency unfolded so rapidly that he initially focused on one question: what could he do to help everyone on board?

Musaev was among passengers who rushed toward the cockpit after Capt. Smit Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by an unidentified co-pilot. Israeli officials said the co-pilot used a knife and sent the aircraft into a dive in an apparent effort to crash the plane while it was en route to Tel Aviv.

A cabin crisis turns into a rescue effort

When Musaev reached the front of the aircraft, he saw one of the pilots on the floor and covered in blood. His dental training immediately became relevant in an environment where professional medical assistance was unavailable.

“I think, how [can] I help this situation for all [the passengers for all plane. How I can help,” Musaev said. “And I see one pilot on the floor, with … blood.”

Another passenger, Yaniv Hayun, was able to pull the suspected attacker out of the cockpit and take control of the aircraft long enough to stop the descent and level the plane. A third pilot later assumed control and flew the jet to Saudi Arabia.

Once the aircraft had stabilized, Musaev said he saw the suspect outside the cockpit. He and another passenger used headphones to bind the man’s hands. The dentist said the suspect did not continue fighting after he was restrained.

“Once he had been subdued, caught, he didn’t resist,” Musaev said.

Musaev said the man identified himself as being from Oman and spoke very little. He recalled hearing the suspect plead to be killed.

“Kill me, kill me, please.”

Treating the captain amid the emergency

With the alleged attacker restrained and the plane no longer descending, Musaev turned to Capt. Machchhar. The captain had injuries to his head, neck and hands, and Musaev began applying pressure in an effort to limit the bleeding.

The interaction left a lasting impression on the dentist. He sought to reassure the injured captain while the aircraft continued toward an emergency landing.

“Everything will be good,” Musaev said he told the pilot.

The captain repeatedly asked for help and expressed fear that he would not survive the incident.

“Help me, please. Help me, please. I don’t want to die here.”

The plane ultimately landed in Saudi Arabia, where passengers received medical care. Musaev said the full emergency lasted roughly 40 minutes, an extended period in which passengers, flight crew and a third pilot all had roles in preventing a far more serious outcome.

“Five to ten seconds from dying”

In the aftermath, Musaev said he was still processing how close the people aboard may have come to disaster. Speaking Thursday from his home in Tel Aviv, he became emotional while reflecting on the steep descent and the speed at which events changed.

“Do you understand we were five to ten seconds from dying?”

The episode underscored the extraordinary pressure facing people in an aircraft emergency. Passengers are ordinarily expected to follow crew instructions, but the reported attack created a situation in which several travelers stepped in to protect the cockpit, aid an injured pilot and help restore order inside the cabin.

Capt. Machchhar was treated at a hospital in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to another hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The Indian consulate in Dubai said he was later able to speak freely, smile and laugh, offering relief to relatives and those concerned about his condition.

An Indian ambassador said the captain’s improvement was particularly reassuring for his family.

“He was speaking openly, smiling and laughing, which was a great relief for us and, above all, for his family.”

Saudi Arabian officials said the co-pilot was in custody in Abu Dhabi. The investigation is expected to examine the alleged assault, the aircraft’s sudden dive and the actions taken in the cockpit and cabin before the emergency landing.

A collective effort remembered by survivors

Musaev said he hopes to see Capt. Machchhar again and thank him personally for continuing to protect the flight despite being injured. For the dentist, the incident was not the story of one person acting alone, but of passengers and crew responding together during a moment of extreme danger.

“We’ll say thank you very much for all,” Musaev said.

His account highlights how quickly ordinary roles can change in a crisis. A dentist traveling home became an emergency caregiver; fellow passengers helped restrain a suspect; and others worked to regain control of the aircraft. Their actions helped carry the flight through a frightening 40-minute ordeal and toward a safe landing.