Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has recounted the terrifying moment his co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a crash axe during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

In interviews from his hospital bed in the United Arab Emirates, the Indian pilot said one thought kept running through his mind: “You can’t die like this.”

The incident occurred on September 30, 2026, about two hours into Flight FZ1073. Machchhar said he was checking flight data on the computer when he suddenly felt a hard blow to the back of his head.

He initially thought part of the aircraft structure had broken loose. The blows continued, and he realised his co-pilot was attacking him.

“There was a moment I told myself, Smit, do something, you can’t die like this,” he said.

Machchhar described losing and regaining consciousness, restricted vision and severe injuries to his head and hand. He later heard the engines power down and felt the aircraft begin a rapid descent.

Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers, crew and reserve pilots on board subdued the co-pilot and regained control of the Boeing 737.

The plane was diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All passengers and crew survived.

UAE authorities have described the attack as an attempted terrorist act. The co-pilot, identified in reports as an Omani national, is under investigation.