Flydubai Copilot Accused of Attacking Captain on Flight

A Flydubai copilot allegedly attacked the captain of a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv passenger flight on September 30, triggering a sharp descent before passengers and crew intervened and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The captain and copilot later received medical treatment and, after clearance, left Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s interior ministry said. The ministry’s initial investigation indicated that the copilot attacked the captain. The aircraft, Flight FZ1073, was carrying more than 170 people, according to reports. Captain Smit Machchhar was injured in the cockpit confrontation but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter and restrain the copilot. Other pilots aboard helped regain control of the aircraft before it landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Reports gave differing estimates of how far and how quickly the plane descended, so no single figure has been established in the available accounts. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel are investigating the incident. The UAE inquiry is examining the circumstances and motive, including whether the attack involved terrorism, advance planning or outside direction.