Stories
Flydubai Hijack Scare: Omani Co-Pilot Transferred to UAE; Injured Pilot Recovers
- •The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to seize control of a Flydubai flight has been transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE for further investigation.
- •The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where the co-pilot allegedly assaulted Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency axe.
- •Captain Machchhar, despite injuries, overpowered the co-pilot with passenger assistance, preventing the aircraft from being taken over.
- •The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained; Saudi authorities conducted an initial investigation before the transfer.
- •Captain Smit Machchhar is now in an Abu Dhabi hospital for medical treatment, with Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal confirming his stable condition; world leaders have praised his courage.
Key Questions Answered
An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit using an emergency axe, but the captain and intervening passengers successfully overpowered him. The flight was safely diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the suspect was detained.
Following initial investigations and questioning by Saudi authorities, the Omani co-pilot was transferred to the United Arab Emirates where the criminal investigation will continue. The UAE Attorney General has formed a specialized team of prosecutors to handle the case.
Captain Smit Machchhar sustained injuries during the cockpit assault and was transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment. According to India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, the pilot is recovering well and received phone calls from world leaders praising his courage.
