The Indian Embassy in Riyadh announced on Wednesday that the health condition of Indian pilot Smit Machhar is stable after he was stabbed on board a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The pilot was taken to a hospital in Tabuk, where he is receiving medical care. The embassy is closely monitoring Machhar's condition and has expressed hope that he will recover from his injuries soon.
According to reports, Machhar was stabbed by the copilot during the flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. The incident occurred on a FlyDubai flight that took off from Dubai and was headed to Tel Aviv. The copilot, who has been taken into custody by Saudi authorities, is reportedly an Omani national. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that one of the pilots had stabbed the other and had attempted to bring down the plane.
The Israeli Prime Minister's office revealed that the pilot who was stabbed, Machhar, had managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to regain control of the plane and divert it to a safe landing in Tabuk. Netanyahu praised the bravery of the pilot and the crew for their swift action, which prevented a potential disaster. FlyDubai has confirmed that crew members on board had secured the plane and landed it safely.
An investigation into the incident is currently underway, and the motives behind the stabbing are still unknown. Israeli media outlets have reported that the incident may have been the result of a dispute between the two pilots. However, officials have not ruled out other possibilities, including a potential terrorist motive. The incident has raised concerns about airline safety and the security of flights.
According to Machhar's profile on LinkedIn, he has been working as a Boeing 737 captain for FlyDubai since June 2022. Prior to joining FlyDubai, he had spent 11 years working for SpiceJet, based in Mumbai, where he served as a captain and later as a trainer. Machhar has a total of 9,750 hours of flying experience on various aircraft models.
The incident has highlighted the bravery and professionalism of the crew and passengers on board the flight. A replacement flight was arranged, and it landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Israeli authorities have taken charge of the investigation, working closely with Saudi and international aviation officials to determine the cause of the incident.
The stabbing incident on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight has raised concerns about air safety and security. The incident is still under investigation, and officials are working to piece together the events leading up to the stabbing. The condition of the pilot, Smit Machhar, remains stable, and he is receiving medical care in a hospital in Tabuk.
Key points
- The incident occurred on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- The pilot, Smit Machhar, was stabbed by the copilot during the flight.
- The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the copilot was taken into custody.
