02 October,2026 07:06 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondent
flydubai pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar. FILE PIC/AFP
A senior official from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday described the incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Israel on Wednesday as a "terrorist act" and praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for helping prevent the aircraft from crashing after he was attacked by his co-pilot, news agency AFP reported.
Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said Machchhar was a "true hero" who deserved "every appreciation" for his actions during the mid-air crisis.
"In confronting a serious terrorist act and a potential disaster, he embodied the true meaning of courage and responsibility," Gargash said in a post on X.
Gargash also stressed the need for continued vigilance against extremism and terrorism as investigations into the incident continue in the UAE.
The flydubai aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew intervened and helped restrain the attacker.
The exact circumstances of the incident and the motive of the co-pilot remain under investigation. The co-pilot has been transferred to the UAE, where authorities are investigating the case.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would impose a "very heavy price" on any power found to be behind the flydubai incident, news agency AFP reported.
"We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price," Netanyahu said in a video message, referring to the co-pilot. The remarks did not establish that any country or outside organisation was responsible for the incident.
The UAE has launched an investigation into the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and whether it involved terrorist intent. The investigation remains ongoing.
The incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation security, particularly the potential risks posed by threats originating from within an aircraft's crew. Investigators are examining the events inside the cockpit, the co-pilot's actions, and the circumstances that led to the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar, who was injured during the attack, spoke publicly about the incident for the first time on Friday. Recalling the moments when the aircraft was in danger, the Indian captain said he realised that the plane was going down and made a final effort to reach the cockpit door.
Machchhar said he made "one last push" to unlock the door despite being attacked, allowing passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and intervene. His account was given while he was recovering in a hospital in the UAE.
The captain's actions enabled others onboard to intervene and helped allow another team of pilots to take control of the aircraft before it was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia. The incident involved 174 passengers and eight crew members, according to reports.
Machchhar has since received praise from officials in India, Israel, and the UAE for his actions during the attack. Gargash described him as a "true hero", while highlighting the captain's courage and sense of responsibility.
For Machchhar, the immediate focus remains recovery. India's Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said the captain was stable and recovering well in a UAE hospital after the attack.
(With AFP and ANI inputs)
