Dubai/IBNS-CMEDIA: flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to Israel until further notice, citing safety concerns, following a cockpit fight aboard a Tel Aviv-bound flight last Thursday in which the co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, media reports said.
“At the request of the authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice,” the airline said in a statement quoted by NDTV.
The airline said its teams were working to assist passengers affected by the suspension and help them reach their final destinations.
Airline thanks Saudi, UAE authorities
flydubai also thanked Saudi authorities for their response to the incident and acknowledged the efforts of UAE authorities and other stakeholders in helping passengers and crew return home.
“On behalf of everyone at flydubai, I extend my sincere thanks to the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their swift and professional response,” the airline said.
“I also thank the UAE authorities and relevant stakeholders for their support in helping our customers and crew return home,” the statement added.
The suspension comes amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged cockpit attack aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
What happened aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073?
The incident took place on September 30 aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his Omani co-pilot inside the cockpit during the flight.
Machchhar sustained serious injuries in the alleged attack but managed to retain control of the aircraft. He was later evacuated for medical treatment as authorities began investigating the incident.
Smit Machchhar was bleeding profusely in the cockpit. Photo: Screen-grab
According to reports, the aircraft had nearly 180 people on board when the alleged attack took place.
Machchhar later spoke about the ordeal, including his efforts to prevent the aircraft from being brought down.
He told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa during the cockpit struggle as he sought courage to deal with the situation.
Machchhar was subsequently airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
The investigation is now focusing not only on what happened inside the cockpit but also on al-Hammami’s background, his previous aviation employment and the security concerns reportedly identified during his training.
The latest revelations have therefore raised questions about whether information concerning al-Hammami was adequately assessed and communicated before he was allowed to take up another flying role.
