UAE tight-lipped on Omani co-pilot’s identity, conspiracy amid flydubai probe
Indian officials, who met Smit Machchhar in the UAE after he was airlifted from Saudi Arabia, were requested not to enquire about the incident, sources said.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a mid-air security breach when the co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain with a knife and attempted to bring down the aircraft. The captain managed to fend off the co-pilot, allowing passengers to subdue him, and two non-duty pilots on board took control of the plane, executing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
There were 180 people on board, with no severe injuries reported among passengers, although the captain was stabbed and two crew members received hospital treatment.
The co-pilot, who was overpowered by passengers, remains detained. According to CBS News, an Omani official confirmed that the assailant was born in Oman and holds Omani citizenship, although Oman has not officially acknowledged this.
Indian officials met with Smit Machchhar, who was airlifted from Saudi Arabia, but were reportedly asked not to inquire about the incident.
Brief written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News, The Economic Times — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Saudi hands over flydubai co-pilot to UAE economictimes.indiatimes.com
