UAE Official Calls Flydubai Attack ‘Terrorist Act’, Hails Captain Smit Machchhar
What Happened
A senior UAE official described the attack aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 as a"terrorist act" and praised Indian captain Smit Machchhar for helping prevent a disaster after he was allegedly attacked by the co-pilot mid-flight. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and investigations are ongoing.
Key Takeaways
The UAE's description of the incident as a terrorist act marks the strongest official characterisation of the Flydubai cockpit attack so far, while attention has focused on Captain Smit Machchhar's role in averting a larger tragedy.