flydubai CEO thanks crew and passengers after FZ1073 diverts to Saudi Arabia
In short
flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said all 172 passengers and crew on flight FZ1073 were safe after a safety incident in the flight deck forced the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight to divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30. The captain, Machchhar Smit, has returned to the UAE after medical clearance and is receiving medical treatment, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said. flydubai has suspended operations to Tel Aviv at the request of the authorities while an official investigation continues.
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flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said all 172 passengers and crew on board flight FZ1073 were safe after a safety incident in the flight deck forced the Dubai–Tel Aviv service to divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30. In his first public statement since the incident, Al Ghaith thanked the captain, the pilots who secured the aircraft and landed it safely, the cabin crew, and the passengers who assisted the crew during what he called a challenging situation. He said he was relieved to confirm that everyone on board was safe and being cared for. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
The National described the event as an altercation aboard the flight. The GCAA said it would not comment at this stage on any details or claims in circulation that could pre-empt the findings of the investigation or affect its course, and urged the public to rely on official sources and refrain from circulating speculation. [ 3 , 4 ]
The captain, named as Machchhar Smit in the GCAA statement and as Smit Machchhar by The National, has returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance, flydubai and the aviation authority said. The GCAA confirmed he is in good condition and receiving the necessary medical treatment, and commended what it called the remarkable courage and speed of response of the Indian pilot, the crew and the passengers who helped bring the situation under control. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
The National reported that, after departing Dubai International Airport, the flight was diverted over Jordanian airspace towards Saudi Arabia and transmitted two emergency signals, and that according to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 the aircraft descended rapidly before landing at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia. Al Ghaith thanked the authorities in Saudi Arabia for their swift and professional response, as well as the UAE authorities and other stakeholders for helping passengers and crew return home. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
flydubai said it has temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice at the request of the authorities, and that its teams are continuing to support affected passengers and help them reach their final destinations. The National also reported that Emirates airline suspended its codeshare operations with flydubai between the UAE and Tel Aviv. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
A full official investigation is under way, led by the relevant authorities with flydubai's cooperation, according to the airline. The GCAA said the investigation is being conducted by a team formed of members of the Public Prosecution, on the order of the UAE Attorney-General, Hamad Al Shamsi, in coordination with relevant regional and international authorities and organisations, protecting the confidentiality and integrity of the process. The authority said the findings and any related developments will be announced through official channels once the necessary procedures are completed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
“There are many questions about what happened on board FZ1073,” Al Ghaith said, stressing the importance of allowing the investigation to establish the facts. “Safety is, and always will be, our highest priority,” he added. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The diversion of a UAE carrier's Tel Aviv service, and the suspension of that route plus Emirates' codeshare on it, removes a direct air link at a time when the incident is still under official investigation. The UAE Attorney-General has ordered a Public Prosecution investigation, and the GCAA has said it will not comment on details in circulation, so the cause and circumstances remain unsettled for passengers, crew and the airline.
Key facts
- flydubai flight FZ1073, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30 after a safety incident in the flight deck. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- All 172 passengers and crew on board were safe, according to flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- The captain, named as Machchhar Smit in the GCAA statement and as Smit Machchhar by The National, returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- flydubai said it temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice at the request of the authorities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- Emirates airline also suspended its codeshare operations with flydubai between the UAE and Tel Aviv, The National reported. [ 3 ]
- The GCAA commended the captain, crew and passengers for bringing the situation under control and said the captain was in good condition and receiving the necessary medical treatment. [ 4 , 7 ]
- An investigation led by the relevant authorities is under way with flydubai's cooperation, and the GCAA said it would not comment on details in circulation that could pre-empt the findings. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- All 172 passengers and crew on board flydubai flight FZ1073 were safe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- The Dubai–Tel Aviv flight was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30 following an incident in the flight deck. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith thanked the captain, pilots, cabin crew and passengers who assisted the crew. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- The captain returned to the UAE after medical clearance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- flydubai temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv at the request of the authorities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- A full official investigation into the incident is under way, with flydubai cooperating. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 7 ]
- The investigation is being carried out by a team formed of members of the Public Prosecution on the order of the UAE Attorney-General, according to the GCAA. [ 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- What exactly happened in the flight deck. flydubai and the GCAA refer only to a safety incident in the flight deck, while The National describes an altercation; the GCAA said it would not comment at this stage on any details or claims in circulation.
- The cause of the incident and the sequence of events. The GCAA said the investigation is continuing and that findings will be announced through official channels once procedures are completed.
- The nature and extent of the captain's medical treatment. The documents say he returned after medical clearance and is receiving the necessary medical treatment, but do not say what he was treated for; the information comes from flydubai and the GCAA rather than an independent account.
- The breakdown of the 172 people on board between passengers and crew. The documents give only a combined figure of 172 passengers and crew.
- The captain's name order. The GCAA statement and Gulf News write Machchhar Smit, while The National and Emirates 24|7 write Smit Machchhar.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- flydubai flight FZ1073, bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv, is diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after a safety incident in the flight deck; all 172 passengers and crew are safe, the airline says. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
- Gulf News publishes flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith's statement thanking the captain, the pilots, the cabin crew and the passengers who assisted. [ 1 ]
- The National reports the CEO's first public statement since the incident and says the captain, Smit Machchhar, is back in the UAE after medical clearance. [ 3 ]
- The GCAA commends the captain, crew and passengers, confirms the captain is in the UAE in good condition and receiving medical treatment, and says investigations continue. [ 4 ]
- Arabian Business reports the GCAA statement and that Tel Aviv flights remain suspended. [ 9 ]