Auckland (The NZ Today)
New details have emerged about the dramatic mid-air emergency aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, with the injured captain identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar.
Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 passengers, most of them Israeli, when a violent confrontation erupted inside the cockpit on Wednesday.
According to Reuters and Israeli officials, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar before the aircraft entered a rapid descent, losing nearly 14,000 feet in around 30 seconds.
The sudden plunge triggered fears of a hijacking, and Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities tried to establish what was happening on board.
Despite being wounded, Machchhar reportedly managed to unlock the cockpit door, giving passengers and crew access to the flight deck.
Several people then intervened and restrained the co-pilot, while additional Flydubai pilots who were travelling on the aircraft as passengers helped regain control.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital. Reuters described Machchhar’s injuries as non-life-threatening.
Separate reports have identified the co-pilot as an Omani national, although his name has not been publicly released. Saudi authorities are investigating the incident and the circumstances that led to the confrontation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said indications suggested the co-pilot had attempted to crash the aircraft, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.
However, Flydubai has urged caution about drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed, and the motive has not yet been officially established.
Passengers have described chaotic scenes as the aircraft descended and people rushed towards the cockpit.
The intervention of passengers, crew and the off-duty pilots ultimately allowed the aircraft to stabilise and make a safe landing.
Earlier reports also indicated that one of the off-duty pilots who assisted may have been a New Zealander, although that detail has not yet been independently confirmed by New Zealand authorities.
The incident is now under investigation by authorities in Saudi Arabia, while aviation officials are also expected to examine how the cockpit confrontation developed and how control of the aircraft was affected.
Source: Reuters
