Flydubai pilot attack, Jet Airways fight and more: 5 unusual cockpit incidents | Today’s news
The incident at Flydubai, in which one of the pilots allegedly tried to crash a plane bound for Tel Aviv, shook the world. According to flight data, FZ 1073 had descended to 17,400 feet within two minutes when a scuffle occurred inside the cockpit. One of the pilots, believed to be an Omani national, attempted to take control of the aircraft and stabbed the other pilot, an Indian national.
The Indian pilot, identified as Captain Smit Machchhar, “was able to prevent the 9/11 disaster,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN.
While investigators look into the motive behind the pilot’s alleged actions, here are some bizarre incidents in airplane cockpits that have caused trouble for pilots.
In 2018, two Jet Airways pilots were grounded for allowing a girlfriend to enter the cockpit of a Goa-Mumbai flight. She reportedly remained in the cockpit until the plane landed in Mumbai.
A Kuwaiti pilot has been penalized for letting a former porn star visit the cockpit
In 2013, a Kuwait Airways pilot was punished for allegedly allowing a former porn star to visit the cockpit.
According to The Washington Post, former porn star Chloe Mafia claimed that a married pilot operating a Kuwait Airways flight from London to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York invited her and a friend into the cockpit.
According to the Mafia, the pilot offered them champagne, allowed one of them to sit on his lap while he smoked, and allegedly let them operate some of the plane’s controls during the flight.
Jet Airways commander ‘slaps’ co-pilot
In 2018, two senior Jet Airways pilots were suspended after an argument between them escalated, with the male pilot allegedly slapping his co-pilot on a flight from London to Mumbai, news agency ANI reported.
The incident took place over Iran-Pakistan airspace, about 2.45 hours from Mumbai.
SpiceJet delists two pilots over cup of drinks in cockpit
In 2023, two SpiceJet pilots were delisted after a photo showing a cup of drink on the center console of the cockpit during a flight was shared on social media, sparking widespread criticism.
One of the pilots was also seen holding a ‘gujiya’ (sweet dish) while another piece of ‘gujiya’ was held near a cup.
2013: Air India pilot unable to get back into cockpit
An Air India flight was diverted in 2013 after its captain was locked out of the cockpit when the door failed after a short toilet break.
According to a BBC report on the incident, Flight AI 403 was flying from Delhi to Bengaluru when the cockpit door locked. The co-pilot reportedly tried to open it from inside the cockpit but was unable to do so.
“The flight commander briefly left the cockpit to visit the lavatory and when he returned to the cockpit, he found the door locked. The door became stuck and all efforts by the co-pilot to open the door, even from the inside, failed,” Air India said in a statement at the time.
