UAE forms special team to probe flydubai incident

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered an investigation into an incident on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Saudi Arabia, authorities said on Thursday.
The UAE foreign ministry said it was “closely following” the incident. On Wednesday, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar allegedly fought off his co-pilot after the latter attempted to crash the aircraft. Machchhar was stabbed and was injured during the confrontation in the cockpit.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

UAE Attorney-General Counsellor Hamad Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of a specialised team comprising members of the Public Prosecution to investigate the circumstances and causes of the incident, authorities said.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal met Machchhar’s family in Dubai on Thursday.

“Ambassador of India to the UAE met Captain Smit Machchhar’s family in Dubai and conveyed the Government of India’s full support and assistance for his welfare and wellbeing,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Mittal was accompanied by Indian Consul General to Dubai Emmadi Vishnu Vardhan Reddy during the meeting.
“We are proud of Capt Smit for his bravery to save so many lives and avert a tragedy,” Mittal said in a post on X after meeting the family. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar following the incident, calling him a “true hero”.

In a statement on Wednesday, Netanyahu said that despite being stabbed and seriously injured, Machchhar fought back, opened the cockpit door and helped enable passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker.
The incident was thus brought under control before the aircraft made its emergency landing in Tabuk.

The circumstances surrounding the cockpit altercation and the alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft are now the subject of an official investigation by UAE authorities.