What happened
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the copilot attacked the captain. The copilot, an Omani national, stabbed or struck the captain, Indian Capt. Smit Machchhar, with a weapon, prompting a distress call and a rapid descent of the aircraft.
The captain, despite suffering severe injuries and significant blood loss, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to restrain the attacker. The passengers and crew members then helped stabilize the plane and land it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The incident has prompted an investigation involving Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, with the countries working together to uncover the key questions surrounding the suspect’s identity, motive, and how a weapon entered the cockpit. The UAE has asserted jurisdiction over the investigation, while Saudi authorities have custody of the suspect and are working with other countries to determine what motivated the attack.
The passengers on board the flight were eventually able to continue their journey to Tel Aviv on another Flydubai aircraft, while the captain underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition. The incident has raised questions about aviation security procedures, including how the copilot obtained the weapon and whether pilots are subject to the same metal-detector screening as passengers.
