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FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Tried to Crash Plane, 182 Lives Saved
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News18•05-10-2026, 13:11
FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Tried to Crash Plane, 182 Lives Saved
- •Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar during a Flydubai flight on September 30, leading to an attempted terrorist operation.
- •The aircraft reportedly plunged 16,000 feet in 30 seconds before control was regained with the help of passengers and off-duty pilots.
- •Investigators are examining the co-pilot’s background and potential extremist connections.
- •In India, a Navy sailor, Pradeep Mukherjee, was arrested in Coimbatore for alleged links to a Pakistani intelligence operative in a honey-trap case.
- •Assam Police arrested two individuals, including a retired Army jawan, for allegedly passing sensitive security information to a Pakistani operative.
Key Questions Answered
Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar during a flight on September 30, in what the UAE described as an attempted terrorist operation. The aircraft plunged about 16,000 feet in approximately 30 seconds before control was recovered with the assistance of passengers and off-duty pilots.
A total of 182 lives were saved after the aircraft managed to recover from a sharp 16,000-foot plunge following the co-pilot attack.
The attacker was successfully overpowered with the help of passengers and off-duty pilots on board the flight.
