UAE official says flydubai attack 'terrorist act' as he praises pilot

DUBAI: A senior UAE official declared the recent incident on a flydubai flight to Israel as a "terrorist act" on Friday, heaping praise on the pilot who managed to prevent the plane from crashing after being assaulted by his co-pilot. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash praised Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, as a "true hero" who deserved "every appreciation" for his courageous actions.

The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, was compelled to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following the stabbing of the pilot by his co-pilot. The motive behind the attack and the full details of the incident are currently under investigation in the United Arab Emirates, where both men have been transferred. In his initial public statements since the incident, Machchhar revealed that he had made one final effort to unlock the cockpit door during the assault, enabling passengers and crew to regain control of the aircraft.

The flight primarily consisted of Israeli passengers and included eight crew members. Gargash cautioned that vigilance and caution remain crucial in the face of the dangers posed by extremism and terrorism.