Investigation launched after cockpit attack on flydubai flight

On Wednesday, a flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a mid-flight incident. According to reports, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian pilot, Smit Matchar, with a sharp object inside the cockpit. The injured pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing three Israeli passengers—Yaniv Hayun, Tzvika Manes, and Asaf Razuan—to intervene, subdue the attacker, and take manual control of the aircraft as it began to lose altitude. All 174 people on board, including 27 children, survived the ordeal.

The United Arab Emirates has launched an official investigation into the incident, coordinating with civil aviation authorities to determine if it involved terrorism or premeditated intent. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially suggested the co-pilot may have been radicalized, he later clarified that the event might not be classified as a traditional hijacking. Saudi Arabian authorities reportedly denied requests for Israeli military aircraft to land at Tabuk airport to retrieve the passengers.

Regarding the pilot's condition, there are conflicting reports: while Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the pilot was fighting for his life with severe head and arm injuries, the Indian Embassy in the UAE later announced that he is recovering well. Investigations into how the weapon was brought into the cockpit remain ongoing.