Saudi Arabia has handed over the co-pilot on board a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv who stabbed Indian Captain Smit Machchhar over the mouth to UAE authorities as investigators continue to investigate into the incident and establish the motive.
The accident happened on Wednesday on a Flydubai flight (FZ1073). The plane, which was en route to Tel Aviv and packed with over 170 people, was allegedly hit by a blow to the head by the co pilot inside the cockpit of the plane. The Boeing 737 then sunk nearly 14,000 feet in air over the next 30 seconds before a pilot regained aircraft control.
When injured, Machchhar was able to open the cockpit door and the other ground crew and passengers were able to intervene and subdue the co-pilot. The plane was then turned around and safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The injured captain has then been taken to the UAE for further medical attention.
The UAE has been probing the event, and investigators are working on determining if the incident was an attempted terrorist attack and the pilot’s motivation. The incident has been cited as an attempt to hijack the aircraft, but an investigation into what went wrong is underway.
Head of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has singled out the incident and vowed to condemn ‘any action’ that endangers ‘civilian lives and aviation safety. He also expressed his appreciation to the authorities for their efforts in keeping all the passengers and crew safe.
The U.S. President, Donald Trump, meanwhile, promised Iran would get a “tremendous response” if investigators prove Tehran had a role in the shooting. Trump has said officials are investigating possible Iranian involvement but failed to offer any evidence or specifics confirming Iranian involvement.
Investigators are continuing to delve into the background of the co-pilot, the conditions within the cockpit and the reason behind this attack in the UAE and other countries that are involved in the investigation. At this time no firm link to Iran has been made at this stage.