Saudi Arabia has handed the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 to the custody of the United Arab Emirates, after completing its initial investigation into the mid-air cockpit assault that forced the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight into an emergency landing in Tabuk.
Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said its preliminary probe — carried out with the participation of a UAE security team — indicated that the co-pilot had assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar during the flight. Saudi authorities detained and questioned the suspect after the aircraft landed safely on Wednesday, and both pilots were treated in hospital and medically cleared before leaving for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.
UAE takes over the investigation
The UAE will now lead the criminal investigation. The UAE Attorney General has formed a specialised public prosecution team to examine the circumstances, causes and motives of the incident — including whether the attack was planned, involved terrorism, or was directed by others. The UAE Foreign Ministry said it was closely following the case.
The Boeing 737 MAX was carrying 174 passengers, including 170 Israelis, when the co-pilot attacked Machchhar at an altitude of 36,000 feet, according to reports. During the struggle, Machchhar opened the locked cockpit door and passengers rushed in to subdue the attacker; two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers then diverted the aircraft, which plunged before landing safely in Tabuk.
Captain Machchhar, who was praised as a hero by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, where India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said he was in good health and recovering well.
Motive still undetermined
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face a severe response if investigators determine Tehran was linked to the incident, floating the possibility of an Iran connection. Israeli officials have also raised the question publicly. Investigators have not established any such link, and the motive behind the attack remains officially undetermined, with explanations ranging from terrorism to a possible mental health crisis still on the table. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, has not been publicly named.
Sources: Flydubai mid-air attack: Saudi hands over Omani co-pilot to UAE — Business Today, Flydubai hijack scare: Omani co-pilot handed to UAE — Firstpost
Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said its preliminary probe — carried out with the participation of a UAE security team — indicated that the co-pilot had assaulted Captain Smit Machchhar during the flight. Saudi authorities detained and questioned the suspect after the aircraft landed safely on Wednesday, and both pilots were treated in hospital and medically cleared before leaving for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning.
UAE takes over the investigation
The UAE will now lead the criminal investigation. The UAE Attorney General has formed a specialised public prosecution team to examine the circumstances, causes and motives of the incident — including whether the attack was planned, involved terrorism, or was directed by others. The UAE Foreign Ministry said it was closely following the case.
The Boeing 737 MAX was carrying 174 passengers, including 170 Israelis, when the co-pilot attacked Machchhar at an altitude of 36,000 feet, according to reports. During the struggle, Machchhar opened the locked cockpit door and passengers rushed in to subdue the attacker; two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers then diverted the aircraft, which plunged before landing safely in Tabuk.
Captain Machchhar, who was praised as a hero by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, where India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said he was in good health and recovering well.
Motive still undetermined
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face a severe response if investigators determine Tehran was linked to the incident, floating the possibility of an Iran connection. Israeli officials have also raised the question publicly. Investigators have not established any such link, and the motive behind the attack remains officially undetermined, with explanations ranging from terrorism to a possible mental health crisis still on the table. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, has not been publicly named.
Sources: Flydubai mid-air attack: Saudi hands over Omani co-pilot to UAE — Business Today, Flydubai hijack scare: Omani co-pilot handed to UAE — Firstpost
