Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, tweeted Saturday that Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar is 'part of our team, part of our homeland's story, and part of the human experience of the UAE,' following a hospital visit.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, visited Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar at the hospital on Saturday afternoon. Following the visit, the Crown Prince tweeted that Machchhar is "part of our team, part of our homeland's story, and part of the human experience of the UAE," underscoring the UAE's official recognition of the captain's actions during the attempted hijacking of flight FZ 1073.
The incident occurred Thursday on a Flydubai flight en route to Tel Aviv. The Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Machchhar and attempted to take control of the Boeing 737, sending it into a steep dive. Machchhar, despite severe injuries, forced the cockpit door open, allowing crew members to subdue the attacker and land safely in Saudi Arabia. In a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Machchhar recounted the struggle, saying he fought for his own life and for the 174 passengers and crew. Earlier Friday, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, praised Machchhar as a "true hero." The Zioneer reported on Friday that Machchhar described the final effort to open the cockpit door as a life-or-death decision.
The attempted hijacking has also highlighted security concerns at Flydubai. As The Zioneer has previously reported, Machchhar alleged in testimony to Channel 16 that the airline effectively "hired a terrorist," raising questions about the carrier's vetting and monitoring procedures, particularly for flights serving Israeli passengers. The Crown Prince's visit and public praise signal the importance Dubai places on aviation safety and its gratitude for Machchhar's heroism. The captain remains hospitalized in stable condition.
8 developments
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- DevelopingN12 publishes cockpit footage from Flydubai flight, shows wounded pilot and passengers' arrest fears
- DevelopingBen-Gvir: Israel Should Seek Extradition of Flydubai Co-Pilot
Source and signal
- Open-source intake