Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry reported that a preliminary investigation into the emergency landing of a Flydubai flight found that the pilot was assaulted by his co-pilot, resulting in injuries to both individuals. The incident occurred during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was forced to make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The ministry stated that the investigation involved a security team from the United Arab Emirates and marked the first official comment from the Saudi government regarding the incident. Flydubai flight FZ1073 was diverted safely after an altercation occurred in the flight deck.
The aircraft landed safely at 9:45 AM local time (06:45 GMT) with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board. Following the emergency landing, passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft, while the remaining crew, excluding the captain and co-pilot, returned to Dubai.
The captain and co-pilot were taken to a hospital for treatment and later medically cleared before departing Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning, accompanied by an Emirati security team. The Saudi Interior Ministry emphasized its commitment to handling emergencies in accordance with international obligations.
Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and collect relevant evidence. Concurrently, the UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has launched an investigation into the cockpit altercation to assess any potential links to terrorist activity or prior planning.
The captain of flight FZ1073, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was reported to be seriously injured but is now in stable condition. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed his transfer to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for his actions during the incident, highlighting his courage and resolve in protecting the lives of others.