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Flydubai pilot casts doubt over Israeli plumber’s role during attempted hijacking
The Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Captain Smit Machchhar, who survived an attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight, expressed doubt about the claim that Israeli plumber Yaniv Hayoun helped land the plane after subduing the co-pilot.
- The incident occurred on 30 September when the Omani co-pilot attacked Captain Machchhar with an axe, attempting to crash the plane carrying 172 passengers; despite serious injuries, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to restrain the attacker.
- Yaniv Hayoun claimed to have subdued the co-pilot and even helped control the aircraft, but Captain Machchhar focused on survival and stated the senior flight crew confirmed he remained in control.
- The UAE attorney general revealed the co-pilot intended a suicide attack by crashing into Israel’s Ben Gurion airport terminal; the attacker was identified as Hamam al-Hammami and is under terrorism investigation in the UAE.
