The flydubai captain wounded in the cockpit attack said the co-pilot asked to pray in the cockpit, something he did not initially consider unusual. About 4-5 minutes later, he said he was suddenly struck repeatedly in the back of the head. His vision became badly blurred, and he then felt the aircraft enter a sharp descent. The captain said he managed at one point to open the cockpit door, but the attacker shut it again. He said people outside were trying to enter using the cockpit access code, but the co-pilot did not grant them access from inside. Lying on the cockpit floor, he recalled hearing the aircraft rushing downward and passengers screaming. Believing he might die, he said he gathered “one last fight,” forced his way back to the door, reached the internal twist handle and opened it, allowing people outside to enter the cockpit and regain control.