Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, praised Indian pilot Smith Machchar for saving the lives of 174 passengers on the FlyDubai flight. This incident took place on Wednesday when Machchar was attacked by the co-pilot who attempted to bring the plane down.
Details of the Incident
According to reports, the incident began when the co-pilot attacked Machchar with a knife, causing the plane to rapidly descend at an altitude of 14,000 feet (4,267 meters). Passengers and crew managed to work together to subdue the co-pilot. Machchar, covered in blood and lying on the ground, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to take control of the co-pilot and enabling the other two pilots of the FlyDubai flight to land the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Reactions from Officials and Machchar's Condition
Netanyahu stated in a video message: "He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and others of different nationalities." Machchar is currently under medical care in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and Indian officials are in contact with his family and Saudi authorities to provide any possible assistance. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has announced that Machchar's condition is stable.
Machchar, who is from Mumbai, India, underwent surgery following the incident. The cause of the altercation between the pilots has not yet been determined. FlyDubai issued a statement indicating that the main reasons for the incident are still unclear and warned of early developments in this regard. The company has also suspended its flights to and from Israel due to this incident.
Security Implications
Netanyahu described the incident as "a very serious security event" and announced that Saudi authorities will interrogate the co-pilot of FlyDubai flight FZ1073, which was flying from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. This incident not only endangered many lives but could also have wide-ranging implications for international relations and flight security in the region.
