An unprecedented mid-air scare took place on FlyDubai’s Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday when reportedly one of the pilots attacked another pilot and
allegedly tried to crash the plane. As per Times Now sources, the Pilot-in-Command - identified as Indian-origin Smit Machchhar - contained the attacker with the help of other passengers as the terror unfolded inside and outside the cockpit. Times Now has now accessed the first photo of the Indian-origin pilot. According to reports, there were two more off-duty pilots onboard who rushed into the scene and tried to control the flight. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk, with all passengers safe, however, the plane’s tail was reportedly damaged. As more details surface after FlyDubai’s flight mid-air scare, Israeli authorities are considering the incident as an act of terror. Eyewitness accounts narrate that there was "blood in the cockpit” after one of the pilots attacked another, with the plane dropping down almost 14,000 feet in 30 seconds from - 33,000 to 17,000 - according to the Associated Press.
Smit Machachhar Fought With Omani Co-Pilot
Smit Machachhar was the captain of a Flydubai flight who fought with his co-pilot during a violent cockpit confrontation that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, Israeli news website Ynet reported.
Ynet, citing Israeli officials, reported that the co-pilot was an Omani national and was suspected of trying to crash the aircraft.
The captain fought with him to prevent the aircraft from crashing, with Israeli passengers later helping subdue the co-pilot, the report said.
FlyDubai Plane Had Transmitted Hijack Signals
The Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, had transmitted emergency signals and made a sharp descent before diverting to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Both pilots were injured and hospitalised, according to Tabuk airport authorities cited by Ynet.
FlyDubai Confirmed Inflight Incident
Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an in-flight incident and landed safely in Tabuk. The airline said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and that all passengers were safe. The airline has not released the identity or nationality of the pilots.
Israeli authorities feared a possible hijacking and scrambled fighter jets. The incident remains under investigation.
With inputs from Agencies
