New video shows chaos on flydubai flight after Indian pilot foils attack - The Indian Express

New footage broadcast on Israeli television on Thursday showed the confusion on flydubai Flight 1073 after passengers and crew stopped an apparent attempt to crash the plane, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. It showed several people crowding around the cockpit door. The clip was shown by Channel 12 news on Thursday and was filmed from a seat near the cockpit.

In it, people shout in English and Hebrew, call for a doctor and tell others to sit down. It then shows Captain Smit Machchhar, who is from India, lying on the floor with blood on him, and the Omani co-pilot with his hands tied behind his back.

Machchhar had opened the cockpit door while hurt, which helped passengers get in and take control. The co-pilot was moved from Saudi Arabia to the UAE on Thursday, and the UAE is checking whether the attack had any link to terrorism.

The clip starts in the cabin. It is not clear when the camera was switched on. One person can be heard saying “he [the accused Omani pilot] tried to crash the plane”. Others are heard yelling “take him out”. Another person is heard yelling “sit down”.

A cabin crew member calls out for one of the additional pilots onboard. Crew members work quickly to open a first aid kit. The clip comes as the pilot suspected of the attack has been moved to the UAE, where the investigation continues.

The plane had gone into a dive after the attack. Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber who helped enter the cockpit, steadied it. A second pair of flydubai pilots, who were on the flight, then took over and landed it, according to The Times of Israel.

After a break in the recording, people can be heard asking again and again for a doctor. Dr Shota Musaev, a dentist from Israel, goes to the front of the plane to give treatment, though the video does not show who he is helping. A man asks in Hebrew if there is another pilot on board, and someone says yes.

The footage then moves to Machchhar on the floor outside the cockpit. He says the co-pilot “hit me so many times”. He adds that he can move his hurt hand but can no longer close it into a fist. Close by, the attacker is surrounded by crew members, and his uniform is also covered in blood.

The video picks up again after the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Medics treat Machchhar on a raised platform outside the aircraft door. People still inside the plane ask where the police are and say the co-pilot must stay on board.

The co-pilot is seen on his knees with his hands tied behind his back. One flydubai steward calls him a terrorist in English and says police are needed. Another person says he cannot go anywhere. A passenger says he has been like that for one hour and 40 minutes or more.

The clip ends with Machchhar telling the medics about his hand. Asaf Rajuan, one of the Israeli passengers who helped hold the co-pilot, says he took a blow to the head. A voice off camera says someone will laugh about it one day.

The co-pilot was handed from Saudi custody to the UAE on Thursday. The UAE said it is looking into whether the incident was linked to any terror activity, or to planning or direction by others, The Times of Israel reports.

David Mencer, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Fox News that Israel can now join the UAE’s team and learn what the co-pilot’s aims were and who was behind him.

Hayoun said the co-pilot shouted in English that he wanted to be killed after he was tied up. Hayoun took this to mean the man had failed in his plan and chose to die. This is his own view, not a finding from the investigation. Musaev said the Israelis first used headphone wire to tie the man up so that he could not start to go wild.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the co-pilot “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination”, but gave no more detail. He also said it is too early to say if Iran had a role, and that he expects clearer findings soon. Netanyahu met survivors of the flight on Thursday.

Smit Machchhar is from Mumbai. The Times of Israel says that by opening the cockpit door he helped save all of the roughly 180 people on the plane. Other outlets, including The Guardian, put the number of passengers at 174.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called him a hero. India’s embassy in the UAE said on Thursday that he is in good health and recovering well, and India’s foreign ministry said he has been moved to Abu Dhabi for more medical care.

The new video gives the first look at his condition soon after the attack. He is seen talking to the medics about his injured hand, and the footage shows the crew and passengers around him.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More