Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for further treatment after he was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, who reportedly attempted to crash the flydubai plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Reuters reported that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew members entered the cockpit.
An Israeli official told the Associated Press that a fight broke out between the pilots and that one of them was armed with a axe. Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot while fighting him in the cockpit, but fought back and was severely injured. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with all the passengers safe. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene. The aircraft subsequently diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The captain was taken to a hospital in Tabuk. Meanwhile, a video showing Machchhar receiving first aid after the aircraft landed in Tabuk is circulating on social media. In the footage, Machchhar can be seen being carried out of the aircraft on a stretcher, with several visible wounds on his body.
Meanwhile, according to The Times of Israel, Saudi Arabia will conduct the initial investigation into the Omani pilot accused of attempting to crash the flight before handing him over to the UAE for further investigation. An Israeli official told the publication that Israel expects more significant findings to emerge from the Emirati investigation after the Saudi probe is completed. The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it was diverted to Tabuk following an alleged attack on the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, by his co-pilot. Machchhar was injured in the incident but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene. Three Israeli passengers reportedly helped subdue the attacker, while two additional pilots onboard took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.