TERRORISM
An attempted hijacking turned a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv into a life-or-death emergency on September 30, after the Omani co-pilot stabbed and seriously wounded the captain, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar of India fought off the co-pilot as he allegedly tried to sabotage the plane’s systems, actions that may have saved the lives of as many as 180 passengers aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.
Among the passengers was Dr. Shota Musayev, a dentist of Bukharian-Georgian ancestry, according to Bukharian Community, who would become one of the flight’s unexpected heroes. Musayev, the only doctor aboard, said he initially rushed toward the cockpit not as a physician, but to help stop the attacker.
“I came to fight the attacker when I heard the screams,” Musayev said. “I didn’t come to provide medical assistance.”
Musayev and several Israeli passengers helped overpower the man, eventually tying his hands and legs. Only then did Musayev see the captain lying on the floor, bleeding heavily from his head and hands.
“I WAS THE ONLY DOCTOR ON THE PLANE,” HE SAID. “I MANAGED TO STOP THE BLEEDING.”
Meanwhile, the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude. “We thought we were going to die, 100%,” Musayev recalled.
Another pilot eventually entered the cockpit and regained control of the aircraft, which landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Musayev said he later learned that the 39-year-old captain, a father of two, had survived and was out of danger.
In a matter of minutes, Musayev had helped subdue an attacker—and then helped save the captain’s life.
Baruch Hashem.
By Erin Levi
Credit: @BukharianCommunity/Instagram