Two more Flydubai pilots have been arrested in Dubai over suspicions that they were involved in planning a terror attack. Both pilots are Maldivian nationals and are believed to have previously travelled to Israel.
The two men, who are Flydubai employees, were taken into custody last Saturday. Their families have been informed by the Maldivian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates that the pilots are being held.
They are reportedly the latest recruits among the six Maldivian pilots employed by Flydubai. The pair are also said to have worked with Hamam al-Hammami, the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to seize control of a flight on 30 September.
There has been no official announcement about the arrests from Mohamed Hussain Shareef, spokesperson for the President’s Office, or from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two pilots have not been publicly charged.
Details of the cockpit incident
The allegations involving Al-Hammami concern Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He is accused of attacking Captain Smit Machchhar with an axe and trying to take over the aircraft. Flydubai described the incident as an “altercation” in the cockpit.
Machchhar, an Indian national, is said to have resisted the attack and opened the cockpit door. An Israeli passenger reportedly entered the cockpit and helped restrain the accused. The aircraft was diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Captain Machchhar has more than 13 years of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft and joined Flydubai in 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a “HERO”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “true hero” for saving 174 lives.
The Indian embassy in the UAE later said that Machchhar was recovering well in a hospital. The Indian ambassador also met members of his family.
Passenger account raises further questions
A passenger named Assaf alleged that some crew members attempted to loosen the accused man’s restraints and prevented passengers from recording the incident. He also claimed that an unidentified pill was being placed in the mouth of the injured Indian captain.
Assaf further claimed that the flight had been staffed exclusively with male flight attendants, raising a suggestion that the accused may have had support from individuals within the crew.
These claims are based on the passenger’s account and have not been confirmed by authorities.
The alleged plan, according to the available claims, was to crash the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport.
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