HT Morning Brief October 1: Indian pilot fights off co-pilot as flydubai flight plunges; Nitin Gadkari says 100% ethanol cars soon

A flydubai flight, FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, departed Dubai en route to Tel Aviv carrying 174 passengers, most of whom were Israeli citizens. On Wednesday, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after an Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Indian pilot and attempted to crash the plane. The struggle occurred during the flight when the co-pilot attacked the aircraft’s control panel.

Israeli officials recounted that the aircraft plummeted nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds during the altercation. After overpowering the co-pilot, passengers and crew members secured control of the aircraft. Two additional flydubai pilots who were on board as passengers then took charge. The flight's captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was found severely injured with blood on him after being stabbed.

The co-pilot was reportedly assaulting the control panel during the incident. Both pilots were subsequently hospitalized by Saudi authorities. A 51-year-old man, also an Israeli, was treated for upper-body injuries and remained in stable condition. The circumstances behind the attack are under investigation by Israeli authorities, who have since implemented strict security measures for pilots operating flights into Israel.