Who are the mystery pilots who saved flydubai Flight 1073? Inside the crucial minutes before the Tabuk landing
Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling on Flight 1073 stepped into the cockpit after the captain was wounded, secured the aircraft and landed safely in Tabuk — but their identities remain undisclosed.
Days after the attempted downing of flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, a new question has emerged at the heart of the story: who were the two pilots who rushed into the cockpit, regained control of the aircraft and brought it safely down in Tabuk?
flydubai has not publicly named them. It has said only that operating crew members were travelling on the flight. A passenger account reported by the Associated Press and detailed by France 24 sheds new light on how crucial their presence became.
They were travelling to operate the return flight
Passenger Daniel Schlichter, seated in the second row, said the additional pilots were travelling to Tel Aviv because they were due to fly the aircraft back to Dubai. In aviation, this is commonly known as deadheading: crew members travel as passengers to the location where their next duty begins.
That meant four pilots were aboard: Captain Smit Machchhar and copilot Hamam al-Hammami in the cockpit, plus the two travelling crew pilots.
A rush into the cockpit
According to Schlichter, after the wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door and passengers restrained the copilot, one of the travelling pilots moved rapidly toward the controls. The second followed, and they secured the cockpit.
Also read: Who is Hamam al-Hammami? Investigators probe possible Iran link
Long minutes before control returned
Passengers did not initially know what was happening behind the closed cockpit door. Schlichter said it took several minutes before the aircraft appeared stable after its steep descent. Distress calls were transmitted while the pilots sought a suitable diversion airport.
About 45 minutes later, passengers were told the aircraft would divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and that the situation was under control.
flydubai thanked them but has not named them
flydubai confirmed that operating crew members travelling on the flight secured the aircraft, diverted it and landed safely at Tabuk. The airline specifically thanked the captain and the pilots who secured and safely landed the aircraft.
Their identities, however, have not been publicly disclosed, leaving the two crew members who played a central role in saving Flight 1073 largely anonymous.
Sources: France 24, Associated Press and flydubai statements.
