Flydubai pilots transferred to UAE for questioning
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The two pilots involved in a violent cockpit altercation aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 have been transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi, placing them directly within a UAE investigation seeking to establish what triggered the mid-air emergency. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said the captain and co-pilot left for Abu Dhabi on Thursday after receiving medical…
Two pilots involved in a violent incident on Flydubai flight FZ1073 have been moved from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi for questioning by UAE authorities, as part of an investigation into the cause of the emergency landing. The captain and first officer, both of whom sustained injuries during the altercation, departed for Abu Dhabi on Thursday after receiving medical clearance, accompanied by a UAE security team.
Preliminary investigations conducted by Saudi authorities revealed that the co-pilot assaulted the captain, and both men require further examination to determine the motive behind the incident. The UAE Attorney-General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has assembled a specialized prosecution team to investigate the matter, examining the possibility of terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction.
The inquiry is also likely to rely heavily on data from the Boeing 737's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. The flight, which originated from Dubai International Airport and was destined for Tel Aviv, was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk for a safe landing with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board.
Flydubai stated that an altercation took place on the flight deck, and crew members intervened to regain control of the aircraft. The UAE asserts jurisdiction over the investigation due to the aircraft's registration in the Emirates and its flying under the UAE flag, a position upheld by Saudi authorities during their preliminary inquiry.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who was receiving treatment in Abu Dhabi, recounted his struggle to open the cockpit door during the attack, enabling others to intervene, and emphasized his primary concern for preventing loss of life. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that the co-pilot was an Omani national who had become radicalized and suicidal, but both UAE authorities and Flydubai have not confirmed this information.
The precise motive remains unknown, and UAE officials have urged the public to refrain from speculation until official evidence has been gathered and verified. Questions also persist regarding the origins and potential use of any weapons during the cockpit confrontation.
Written by urgent.news from Arabian Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
