India, Oct. 1 -- A routine journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a terrifying fight for survival when violence erupted inside the cockpit of Flydubai Flight FZ1073. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, plunged thousands of feet after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a knife. What followed was a desperate effort by the wounded pilot and several passengers to regain control of the situation and prevent a potentially catastrophic crash.

Machchhar, despite suffering serious injuries, managed to open the cockpit door. That gave passengers and crew members a chance to enter, restrain the attacker and help restore control of the aircraft. The plane eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where the ...