UAE Launches Probe into Terrifying Midair Cockpit Fight on Tel Aviv-Bound Flight

The United Arab Emirates’ chief prosecutor has launched an official investigation into a shocking cockpit altercation on board a Flydubai flight to Israel, which forced the aircraft to divert and land safely in Saudi Arabia.

Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi formed a specialized team of public prosecutors to investigate the midair fight between the two pilots on Flydubai flight FZ1073, as reported by the Emirati state news agency WAM. The aircraft was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv before its sudden diversion to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

Investigators are examining the motives behind the incident, including whether there was any connection to "terrorist activity or intent," or if the event involved prior planning. Al Shamsi noted that UAE judicial authorities hold jurisdiction over the matter because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its flag, meaning UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he spoke with the UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed to allow Israel to participate in the interrogation of the suspect.

Netanyahu credited the Flydubai pilot, Indian national Smit Machchhar, along with quick-thinking passengers, with preventing a disaster after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to crash the plane.

Passengers aboard the aircraft, which carried 174 people, described how the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door to let travelers in. Passengers then wrestled with the co-pilot and helped stabilize the plane during a sharp descent.

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that the individuals on board were citizens of Israel, India, and the UAE, while the US State Department reported that four passengers held US citizenship. In response to the emergency, Flydubai announced the suspension of all its flights to and from Israel.