Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said on 1 October 2026 that its preliminary investigation found the co-pilot of flight FZ1073 had assaulted the captain, leaving both injured.
Both pilots departed for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning after their conditions improved and doctors cleared them to travel, accompanied by an Emirati security team. The ministry also confirmed that UAE security personnel had assisted the Saudi investigation.
These initial findings confirm an assault; they do not establish its motive or substantiate allegations of terrorism.
Source: Saudi Press Agency statement, The National
Captain Smit Machchhar has described how he opened FZ1073’s cockpit door while injured on the floor, allowing others to enter as the aircraft descended.
Speaking from his Abu Dhabi hospital bed during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released on 2 October, he said his flying experience helped him recognise the descent and summon the strength to reach the door. His testimony provides a first-hand account of the intervention; it does not establish the attacker’s motive.
Source: Reuters, 2 October 2026.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, has described the attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 as a “serious terrorist act”. He praised Captain Smit Machchhar as a “true hero”, saying his courage and professionalism helped avert a potential disaster.
The remarks represent the strongest public characterisation of the incident so far by a senior Emirati official. However, the UAE investigation remains under way and has not yet published findings establishing the attacker’s motive, affiliations or whether he acted alone.
Source: Anadolu Agency, 2 October 2026
This post was published on 2 October 2026 11:06
Lufthansa plans to introduce its first Airbus A350-1000 on the Munich–Tokyo Haneda route on 3…
EUROCONTROL’s Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) handled 842,259 flights between May and September 2026,…
Polska Grupa Lotnicza (PGL), the aviation group behind LOT Polish Airlines, plans to establish a…
An airBaltic A220-300 aircraft registered YL-ABS arriving from Berlin as flight SN2590 on behalf of…
Norwegian Air Shuttle is increasing winter capacity between the UK and Oslo as part of…
Brussels Airport will offer 136 direct destinations during its winter season starting on 25 October,…