Flydubai flight hijacking bid foiled after Omani co-pilot attacks Indian captain

An Omani co-pilot attacked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machar with a knife and tried to take over a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to an Israeli official speaking to The Times of Israel, the attacker had discussed killing Jews on social media and told Emirati crew members to kill him. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker was taught Islamic extremist thinking and that there is a very high probability he intended to crash the plane. During the flight on Wednesday, about two hours into the journey, the aircraft dropped more than 17,000 feet, or 5,200 meters. Passengers and crew then overpowered the attacker and regained control of the plane, allowing it to land safely. Investigators have not yet officially confirmed a final motive, though authorities in the United Arab Emirates have opened a probe into whether the incident involved terrorist activity. Following medical clearance, both pilots were sent back to the UAE on Thursday morning, according to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Interior. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by phone with Captain Smit Machar to praise his courage and quick thinking, noting that the country is praying for his recovery. Captain Machar recounted that he was injured and fell during the incident, but managed to open the cockpit door so others could step in to help. The captain also shared that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa while enduring pain and expressed gratitude to the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their medical care.

Context

Commercial flight deck security relies on strict access protocols and crew intervention when emergencies occur mid-air. International aviation authorities and national governments routinely investigate any sudden loss of altitude or mid-flight security breaches to determine potential terror links.