Last Updated:
The 45-second video shows Hamam al-Hammami sitting on his knees inside the aircraft with his hands tied behind his back. His clothes appear to have bloodstains.
The video offers a glimpse into the tense minutes after passengers and crew intervened during the alleged attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
A new video from inside the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight FZ1073 shows passengers restraining the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and refusing to release him except to the police.
The 45-second video, shared by Israel-based news channel i24NEWS, shows Hamam al-Hammami sitting on his knees inside the aircraft with his hands tied behind his back. His clothes appear to have bloodstains. Passengers can be heard repeatedly saying “just police” and “only police” as they keep the co-pilot restrained.
The video offers a glimpse into the tense minutes after passengers and crew intervened during the alleged attempt to seize control of the aircraft. The UAE authorities have described the incident as an attempted terrorist act, saying al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with a crash axe and tried to take control of the plane.
Passengers Refused To Release Co-Pilot
The video appears to show passengers making clear that al-Hammami would be handed over to the authorities rather than released. At one point, an unidentified passenger can be heard saying: “One hour, 40 minutes. More five minutes.” The comment appears to refer to the length of time passengers had already kept the co-pilot restrained and their willingness to wait a few more minutes before handing him over to local police.
The footage comes after two passengers involved in restraining al-Hammami told The New York Post that members of the flight crew had asked them to release him.
“They were asking us to untie the terrorist. We had no idea why,” banking executive Tzvika Manes told the newspaper.
Real estate professional Daniel Schlichter, another passenger involved in the intervention, said the request immediately made them suspicious.
“They were saying to free the terrorist. We got instantly suspicious of them,” he said.
An argument followed, according to the passengers. They said they made it clear that al-Hammami would not be released.
“They said, ‘You are not God, you are not going to kill him,’” Manes recalled, adding that the passengers’ intention was to prevent further harm rather than kill the co-pilot.
The passengers also gave al-Hammami an oxygen mask because, they said, they wanted him to survive and face investigators.
“We wanted him to live so he could be investigated,” Schlichter said.
How Passengers Took Control Of The Situation
The incident began after Smit Machchhar was attacked inside the cockpit. Despite being seriously injured, the Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing people outside to realise what was happening and intervene. The aircraft had gone into a steep descent during the confrontation.
Passengers rushed towards the cockpit after hearing the commotion. They were joined by two flydubai pilots who were travelling as passengers and were scheduled to operate the aircraft’s return journey.
The two off-roster pilots took control of the aircraft and helped stabilise it before the plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Among the passengers who intervened were Yaniv Hayun, Asaf Rajuan and Tzvika Manes, who helped overpower and restrain al-Hammami. Dentist Shota Musaev provided first aid to the injured Smit Machchhar.
Musaev said Smit Machchhar had suffered extensive injuries and significant blood loss.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in an attempted terrorist act to seize control of the aircraft, which went into a steep descent before being diverted and safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Ask News18Delhi, India, India
October 04, 2026, 10:29 IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
