Deadheading Pilots Saved Stricken Flydubai Jet After Mid-Air Cockpit Attack

Two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers stepped into the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073 and guided the aircraft to an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying 182 people when it plunged more than half its cruising altitude during an attack on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar by the co-pilot. Passenger Daniel Schlichter told the Associated Press that the two men were on board because of a routine aviation practice known as deadheading, where pilots travel as passengers to reposition for a later flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai. The intervention happened after Captain Machchhar, despite serious injuries, unlocked the cockpit door. Passengers and crew rushed forward to subdue the co-pilot, and one of the deadheading pilots jumped over the scuffle to enter the flight deck and take the controls. The second travelling pilot quickly joined him, and they shut the door to secure the cockpit. It took more than ten minutes to steady the aircraft after a drop so severe that part of the rudder was torn away. A mayday call was issued as the crew searched for a safe place to land. Dr Shota Musayev, an Israeli dentist who was on the flight, gave emergency medical care in the cabin while passengers and crew kept the attacker under guard. ABC News reported that three days after the incident, the two unnamed crew members still have not been publicly identified by the airline. Schlichter admitted that passengers grew nervous when the pilots did not communicate with the cabin after steadying the plane, fearing a possible hijacking towards Iran.

Context

Deadheading is a common industry practice that allows airlines to move flight crews efficiently between different airports to keep schedules running on time. When unexpected in-flight emergencies happen, having extra trained flight deck crew members already on board can become vital for saving a damaged aircraft.