Netanyahu praises Indian pilot for saving 174 lives after flydubai cockpit attack

TEL AVIV, Sept 30: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the passengers and crew of a flydubai flight after a violent cockpit incident was brought under control, with the injured pilot identified by Indian media as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national.

The flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 passengers, was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after an altercation in the cockpit. Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and apparently attempted to take control of the aircraft.

Indian media identified the pilot as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national who previously worked with SpiceJet and has been a flydubai captain since 2022. Machchhar and the other pilot were taken to hospital following the incident.

Netanyahu said passengers and a crew member intervened after the aircraft began a rapid descent, helping to subdue the attacker and prevent what he described as a major disaster. He praised those who intervened, saying they had saved many lives.

The aircraft, which was carrying 174 passengers according to Israeli media reports, landed safely at Tabuk. The passengers later continued their journey to Israel on a replacement aircraft.

Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck and said the aircraft was secured by crew members who diverted it safely to Tabuk. The airline said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for and stressed that the underlying reasons and motives remained unknown pending a formal investigation.

The suspected attacker, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, was arrested after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. The investigation into the incident and its motive remains ongoing.