Why were four pilots aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 when only two were needed?
Executive Brief • Key Highlights
Fast factual intelligence distilled for busy investors, executives, and answer bots:
- ✓Four pilots were aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 when a cockpit attack left the captain wounded.
- ✓Two extra pilots were likely deadheading, a common practice where crew travel as passengers to reach their next assignment.
- ✓Aviation consultant John Cox said, "We move pilots all around the world," explaining their presence on board.
Story at a Glance
- Category
- BUSINESS
- Reported By
- MoneyControl
- Reading Speed
- 4 Minute(s)
- Market Focus
- India Economy
Four pilots happened to be aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073 when a cockpit attack left its captain badly wounded, an unusual circumstance that ultimately helped save the aircraft and the 182 people on board. Only two pilots were operating the Boeing 737 Max 8 on its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The other two were sitting in the passenger cabin when the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar. After passengers overpowered the attacker, the additional pilots were able to take control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Their presence raises an obvious question: why did a flight lasting only about three and a half hours have four pilots aboard? The extra pilots were probably 'deadheading' According to the New York Times, airlines generally do not put an entire backup flight crew on relatively short flights simply as a precaution.
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