ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates / ConSynSer / – Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, have honoured the flydubai crew involved in the September 30 in-flight incident. The UAE President received the crew members in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. The two leaders commended the crew’s courage and professionalism in keeping passengers safe and securing the aircraft.
Their Highnesses affirmed that protecting people’s safety and security remains a top priority for the UAE. Senior members of the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Dubai attended the meeting. They included Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, was also present.
Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended alongside Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, was among the guests. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and several sheikhs and senior officials also attended.
Emergency landing in Tabuk
The flydubai flight, FZ1073, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an altercation broke out on the flight deck. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely about an hour after a distress call. The captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital with injuries. The airline said all passengers were safe and that off-duty flydubai crew on board helped secure and land the aircraft.
The General Civil Aviation Authority described the event as a security incident and launched an investigation. A preliminary investigation by Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry found that the co-pilot had assaulted the captain. flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel while the inquiry continues. Passengers completed their journey to Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft later that day.
Captain praised by India’s prime minister
The Indian Embassy identified the captain as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and said he was in stable condition after the incident. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Captain Machchhar for his bravery in a video call on October 2. Modi praised the pilot for prioritising passenger safety during the emergency. The call coincided with Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday in India.
The reception in Abu Dhabi marked the UAE leadership’s recognition of the crew’s actions during the emergency. flydubai, a Dubai-based airline, began operations in 2009. A senior airline official has said the cause will become clear once investigators examine the aircraft’s flight recorders. flydubai has said the reasons and motives remain subject to a formal investigation.