Captain Smith Machkar, the Indian pilot of Fly Dubai flight, spoke for the first time about the attack he faced during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred when his colleague suddenly attacked him and attempted to crash the plane.
Details of the Incident
Machkar, after being severely injured, managed to open the door and allow passengers to enter the cockpit and subdue his colleague. Meanwhile, another pilot who was resting took control of the aircraft. In a video call with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, he said: "I had many wounds and had fallen to the ground. I was fighting for my life. At one moment, I realized that if I didn't get up, the passengers' lives were in danger."
Consequences of the Incident
About 180 passengers were on board this flight, which diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the incident. Most of the passengers were Israeli citizens. Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the President of the UAE, announced on social media that Machkar deserves "the highest commendation" for his bravery and responsibility in the face of a terrorist act, calling him a "true hero."
The suspect in the attack, an Omani national, was arrested after landing in Saudi Arabia, and the motive for the attack is still unclear. Israeli officials believe it was an Islamic attack. A senior official from the United Arab Emirates described the incident as a terrorist attack on Friday. Israel also used similar terms to describe the incident.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Fly Dubai, announced that the company will conduct a full investigation into the incident and said: "It is important to allow this process to clarify the facts." Fly Dubai also announced that it will suspend its flights to Tel Aviv at least until October 15.
A source told Reuters that Israeli officials expect investigations to be conducted regarding the co-pilot of the flight, who is currently detained in the United Arab Emirates. This source emphasized that the UAE is responsible for the investigations.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated that his country is examining whether the co-pilot was under someone's orders. He added: "Whoever sent him will pay a heavy price." Many Israelis have been left stranded in the UAE due to the suspension of flights between the two countries, and Israeli airlines have received the necessary permits to bring Israeli citizens back to their country.
