Israel offers to assist Saudi safety inquiry into FZ1073
Israel has offered to participate in a Saudi-led aviation safety investigation into FZ1073 but has not received an invitation, investigation authority director Ofer Vaknin told Reuters on 7 October. Reuters
Reuters reports, citing three sources, that Saudi Arabia has launched the inquiry alongside the UAE’s criminal investigation. Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed its launch; no new findings were announced. Reuters
US investigators join Saudi FZ1073 safety inquiry
The US National Transportation Safety Board has confirmed that it assigned an accredited representative to Saudi Arabia’s safety investigation into flydubai flight FZ1073. US participation reflects the aircraft’s status as an American-manufactured Boeing 737 MAX.
Under ICAO Annex 13 rules, the UAE is also entitled to participate because the aircraft is UAE-registered and flydubai is based in Dubai. The technical inquiry is separate from the UAE-led criminal investigation. Saudi authorities have yet to issue a public statement or indicate whether the safety findings will be published.
Source: Reuters
Our earlier updates incorrectly stated that Saudi authorities had not publicly announced an investigation into FZ1073. Saudi Gazette reported on 1 October 2026, citing the National Transport Safety Center, that it had dispatched investigators to examine the incident and collect evidence. saudigazette.com.sa
The subsequent confirmation of US NTSB participation remains valid. No new investigation findings were identified.
Source: Saudi Gazette
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on 7 October that Captain Smit Machchhar remains in hospital in Abu Dhabi after undergoing surgery for injuries sustained aboard flydubai flight FZ1073.
Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the captain’s condition was improving and that he was responding well while recuperating. The Indian Embassy remains in contact with his family, doctors, hospital and UAE authorities.
This is the first detailed official update on his treatment since flydubai confirmed that he had returned to the UAE following medical assessment. No new official findings on the suspected attacker’s motive or possible links have been released.
Source: Chronica Times
This post was published on 7 October 2026 22:41
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner has called for lengthy airport border-control…
Airbus and Kratos have completed the first European flight of the U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat…
Selma Blair, 54, was taken into police custody at New York JFK Airport late on…
ACI EUROPE and Airlines for Europe (A4E) have called on the European Commission and Schengen…
TUI Belgium has confirmed a data breach after customers reported receiving fraudulent messages containing accurate…
In September 2026, Airbus recorded 17 gross orders and delivered 72 commercial aircraft, according to…