Indian pilot Smit Machhar returns to UAE after thwarting attack on Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced on Friday that the Indian pilot, Smit Machhar, who resisted an attack on board a Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv in Israel, on Wednesday, returned “safely to the UAE, and is in good condition and receiving the necessary treatment.”

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the authority praised "the remarkable courage and quick response of the pilot and crew of Flydubai flight (FZ1073), and the passengers who contributed to controlling the situation."

She stressed that "the speed of their decisive intervention and their assumption of responsibility contributed to containing the situation and preventing more serious repercussions, which reflects the level of readiness, cooperation, and shared responsibility in the face of emergency and exceptional circumstances."

She added that "the investigations, which are being carried out by the investigation team formed by members of the Public Prosecution responsible for the order of the Attorney General of the Federation, are still ongoing, and that all procedures carried out by the competent authorities are carried out in accordance with the approved frameworks, in a way that maintains the confidentiality of the investigation and the integrity of its course, and in coordination with the relevant regional and international bodies and organizations."

She stressed that she "will not comment at this stage on any details or circulating information that might pre-empt the results or influence the course of the investigation," calling for "relying on official sources and avoiding the circulation of speculation and unreliable information."

She explained that “the results of the investigation and any relevant developments will be announced through official channels as soon as the necessary procedures are completed,” calling for “investigating information from official sources.”