Dubai Crown Prince visits flydubai pilot attacked in cockpit, praises his courage
In short
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, visited flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on Saturday and praised his “courage, responsibility and care for human life”, according to the Crown Prince’s post on X. The National reported that Captain Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe during a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday, that passengers and a reserve pilot overpowered the co-pilot, and that the aircraft landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The UAE attorney general said the co-pilot “attempted to carry out a terrorist act” and that investigations into the circumstances and motives continue.
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, visited flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on Saturday and offered the nation’s “full appreciation and praise”, according to Gulf News, The National, Emirates 24|7, Aletihad and the state news agency WAM. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
In a post on X, the Crown Prince said the pilot had demonstrated “the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life”. He added: “We are proud that he is part of our team, part of the story of our nation and part of what the UAE stands for — a nation of compassion, a nation of peace and a nation of life.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The visit followed a security incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. The National reported that Captain Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, that he managed to open the cockpit door after being struck with a crash axe, letting in crew members and passengers, and that a small group of passengers and a reserve pilot overpowered the co-pilot and landed the Boeing 737 in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia. [ 2 ]
UAE attorney general Hamad Al Shamsi said on Saturday that investigations had revealed the co-pilot attacked the captain on the flight deck using a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, and that the co-pilot had “attempted to carry out a terrorist act”, according to The National. The attorney general said investigations were continuing to establish the full circumstances and motives, including analysing physical and digital evidence. [ 2 ]
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority commended Captain Machchhar, the crew of flight FZ1073 and the passengers who helped bring the security incident under control, and confirmed the captain had returned safely to the UAE, was in good condition and was receiving medical treatment. Gulf News reported that investigations are under way under a team formed from members of the Public Prosecution following an order by the UAE Attorney-General, with authorities coordinating with relevant regional and international bodies while maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the inquiry. [ 1 ]
The National reported that Captain Machchhar is receiving medical care in Abu Dhabi; the reports of the visit did not state where it took place, and the co-pilot’s name and nationality have not been disclosed by UAE authorities. Gulf News also reported that the pilot was airlifted to the UAE and that India’s ambassador visited him. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The case has drawn attention at the highest levels of the UAE state, with the Crown Prince, the General Civil Aviation Authority and the attorney general publicly supporting the captain, and it raises questions about cockpit security on a route between Dubai and Tel Aviv. Because the investigation is continuing and the co-pilot’s name and nationality have not been disclosed, the motives and the full circumstances remain unknown.
Key facts
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, visited flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on Saturday and conveyed his appreciation and praise. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Sheikh Hamdan said in a post on X that the pilot demonstrated “the highest degrees of courage, responsibility and care for human life”. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Captain Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, and a cockpit attack is also referenced by Gulf News. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The National reported that the captain opened the cockpit door after being struck with a crash axe, that a small group of passengers and a reserve pilot overpowered the co-pilot, and that the Boeing 737 landed in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia. [ 2 ]
- The UAE attorney general said investigations had revealed the co-pilot attacked the captain on the flight deck with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, and had “attempted to carry out a terrorist act”. [ 2 ]
- The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority commended Captain Machchhar, the crew of flydubai flight FZ1073 and passengers who helped bring the security incident under control, and confirmed the captain had returned safely to the UAE, was in good condition and was receiving medical treatment. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News reported that investigations are being carried out by a team formed from members of the Public Prosecution on the order of the UAE Attorney-General, with authorities coordinating with regional and international bodies. [ 1 ]
- Gulf News also reported that the pilot was airlifted to the UAE and that India’s ambassador visited him. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, visited flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and gave him the nation’s appreciation and praise. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- A cockpit attack took place aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Investigations are being conducted by a team formed from members of the Public Prosecution on the order of the UAE Attorney-General. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The identity of the co-pilot and his motives. The National says the co-pilot’s name and nationality have not been disclosed by UAE authorities, and the attorney general said investigations into the full circumstances and motives, including physical and digital evidence, are continuing.
- The exact sequence of events in the cockpit before the aircraft was steadied and landed. The documents describe the attack and the response in summary form and say the incident remains under investigation, with the inquiry’s confidentiality and integrity being maintained.
- Where the Crown Prince’s visit took place. The National says the pilot is receiving medical care in Abu Dhabi, but the reports of the visit do not state its location.
- The attorney general’s characterisation of the co-pilot’s action as “an attempted terrorist act”. This appears only in The National’s account of the attorney general’s statement and is not repeated in the other outlets’ coverage of the visit.
- The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority commended the captain, the crew of flight FZ1073 and passengers, and said the captain had returned safely to the UAE in good condition and was receiving medical treatment. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gulf News reports Sheikh Hamdan’s visit to Captain Machchhar and his social media post praising the pilot. [ 1 ]
- The National reports the visit, the attorney general’s statement on the crash axe attack and the landing in Tabuk. [ 2 ]
- Aletihad (English) publishes its account of the visit and the Crown Prince’s X post. [ 4 ]
- State news agency WAM reports the visit and quotes Sheikh Hamdan’s praise. [ 5 ]