Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defense Minister, visited Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital as the pilot continues his recovery from stab wounds sustained during last week's attempted hijacking. The crown prince reportedly said, 'We are proud that he is part of our team,' according to The Zioneer Intelligence Desk.
Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed was reported on Sunday as telling Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar that the airline is proud of him. "We are proud that he is part of our team," the crown prince said, according to The Zioneer Intelligence Desk. Machchhar continues his recovery from stab wounds sustained during last week's attempted hijacking.
The Zioneer reported on Saturday that the crown prince visited Machchhar in hospital and praised his "courage, responsibility, and concern for human life." That visit followed earlier reports of Machchhar's harrowing account of the cockpit struggle. On Friday, Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he forced open the cockpit door while being beaten, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. The pilot credited his Hindu prayers for his survival.
The attempted hijacking occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ 1073 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and attempted to crash the plane. Israeli passengers and crew neutralized the attacker. As The Zioneer reported, investigators found "Free Palestine" pamphlets among the suspect's belongings, and he has been transferred to UAE custody. A joint investigation involving Emirati, Saudi, and Israeli authorities is ongoing.
Machchhar's recovery continues; no further details on his medical condition have been released. The investigation into the co-pilot's radicalization and the security lapses that allowed him into the cockpit remains underway.
8 developments
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- DevelopingN12 publishes cockpit footage from Flydubai flight, shows wounded pilot and passengers' arrest fears
Source and signal
- Open-source intake