flydubai incident highlights: Trump claims flydubai's Omani co-pilot linked to Iran, says authorities ‘working on it’

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The Indian ambassador to United Arab Emirates met with Captain Smit Machchhar on Thursday, with the embassy saying he was in "good health and recovering well."

Ambassador Deepak Mittal met with "Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well," the Indian embassy in the UAE wrote on X.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior released a statement on the emergency landing at Tabuk Airport and the subsequent investigation. The update came after Saudi Arabia handed over the attacking co-pilot to UAE authorities. The probe in Saudi Arabia also included a security team from the UAE, the update confirmed.

"The source stated that preliminary investigations conducted by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom, with the participation of a security team from the brotherly United Arab Emirates, indicated that the first officer had assaulted the aircraft captain, resulting in both sustaining various injuries," a translation of the statement shared by the Saudi embassy in US read.

Saudi Arabia said Thursday that its preliminary investigation found that the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv assaulted the captain during the flight, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in the Saudi city of Tabuk.

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face a severe response if investigators determine that Tehran was linked to the copilot accused of trying to crash an Israel-bound passenger flight.

Trump issued the warning as investigators worked to establish why the copilot allegedly stabbed the captain of a FlyDubai flight, sending the aircraft into a steep descent before other people on board intervened. The plane was eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

More than 180 people were aboard the aircraft.

Reporters at the White House asked Trump whether he had received any information linking the alleged attacker to Iran.

"We’re working on it right now," Trump said.

Asked whether he believed Iran was involved, Trump replied, "I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now."

Trump was then asked whether the US would retaliate against Iran if it was determined to be behind the incident.

"Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry," he said.

“You just ask them,” he added. “They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard.”

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the 'Visisht Gujarat Garima Award' for flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar.

"The courage of Captain Smit Machchhar is being saluted by the entire world today. This valiant son of Gujarat has illuminated the name of Gujarat and the nation across the globe through his heroism. To honour his extraordinary act of bravery and humanity, the Government of Gujarat will bestow upon him the 'Visisht Gujarat Garima Award.' The entire Gujarat is praying for his swift recovery," Patel said.

Saudi Arabia said the suspect in flydubai plane attack has been handed over to the United Arab Emirates, according to AP.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed the Omani co-pilot who stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar on the flydubai flight from Dubai on Tel Aviv on Wednesday had links to Iran.

When asked about whether the Omani co-pilot had any connection with Iran, Trump said, “I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes. But we're working on it right now.”

flydubai incident LIVE updates: The pilot-in-command of the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, who was stabbed by his co-pilot, has been shifted to Abu Dhabi for “continued medical attention and recovery”, India's ministry of external affairs said.

India's ambassador in UAE also met Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and enquired about his well-being, the MEA said. The ambassador also met with the pilot's family and assured them of all possible support.

“We once again salute Captain Smit Machchhar's valour and courage. We also convey our deep appreciation for the admiration and support he has received from across the world for his act of gallantry,” the MEA stated.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Investigators are probing the flydubai incident, which took place on Wednesday, and working to establish why the Omani co-pilot stabbed pilot-in-command Smit Machchhar during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the Associated Press reported.

A regional official briefed on the investigation said the co-pilot was under arrest and confirmed that Saudi authorities were working with countries, including Israel, to try to determine a motive. o determine a motive.

“All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now,” the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told AP.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: A passenger aboard the flydubai flight on Wednesday said the inspiration behind his miraculous effort to help restrain the Omani co-pilot and take control of the plane was a TV show.

Yaniv Hayoun told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting that after entering the cockpit, he had started “pulling back the handles.” “I watch Air Crash Investigation, Mr. Prime Minister — really. The plane started to level out a bit, and then the pilot told me he was taking over the controls from there,” he said, according to CNN.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israel's three largest airlines said on Thursday they planned to resume flights to Dubai following the flydubai incident on Wednesday, Reuters news agency reported.

Security authorities halted Israeli airlines' flights to the UAE at the outset of the war with Iran in late February. Still, 837,000 passengers, or 7.5% of the total travelling through Ben Gurion, flew there over the first eight months of 2026, half of them on flydubai, according to Reuters.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight on Wednesday, is in “good health and recovering well”, the Indian embassy in UAE said.

Machchhar was earlier airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. The embassy said it "remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Omani co-pilot of the flydubai flight had passed a “loophole” to fly the plane to Tel Aviv.

“Well, he was an Omani national and we have constraints that say you can't have pilots from countries that don't have diplomatic relations with Israel…So obviously he was able to go through that. So there's a loophole there: How to make sure that we screened pilots in advance,” the Israeli PM told Fox News.

He said that pre-screening had been done for pilots who had flown the passengers aboard flight FZ1073 from Saudi Arabia to Israel. “We checked their background, but obviously there was a loophole here, and we're taking care of that, among other things,” Netanyahu said.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a “hero” after his act of unlocking the cockpit door of the flydubai flight despite being stabbed helped passengers enter the space and restrain his co-pilot.

Machchhar was covered with blood on the floor when he managed to click the release to open the cockpit door, a spokesperson for Netanyahu told Reuters news agency. “He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Netanyahu had said earlier in a post on X.

PM Modi too, in a post on X, lauded Machchhar as a “hero”. "In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy," PM Modi said.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israeli PM Netanyahu has said that with the probe being launched into the incident, authorities would be able to say in a matter of few days whether the flydubai co-pilot has any connections to Iran, Reuters news agency reported.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday told Fox News that the co-pilot on the flydubai Dubai to Tel Aviv flight “underwent Islamic radical indoctrination”.

The co-pilot on the flight had stabbed the pilot-in-command, Smit Machchhar. However, the latter succeeded in unlocking the cockpit door, following which passengers rushed in to restrain the co-pilot, and one among the second set of pilots took control of the aircraft.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the flydubai flight incident, Israeli envoy to UAE said, according to Reuters news agency.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot during an alleged mid-air cockpit attack, is being airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment, according to reports.

Machchhar was injured after the co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife and attempted to take control of the Tel Aviv-bound aircraft. The flight later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar, an Indian national, was hospitalised in Tabuk following the incident. He has since been credited with helping prevent a potential catastrophe after passengers and crew intervened and the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: The Flydubai cockpit incident was a "terror act" that could have resulted in a "bigger tragedy" but for the bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday, hailing him as the "real hero".

Israel Consul General to South India Orli Weitzman said people in Israel, more than its leaders, were "very very appreciative" of Machchhar, who was attacked with a knife by his co-pilot and suffered bleeding injuries.

Weitzman said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also praised Machchhar, who is currently undergoing treatment in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight made an emergency landing following the mid-air incident.

"But for Machchhar's bravery, we would have faced a bigger tragedy," Weitzman said during an online media briefing.

Asked about any update on the injured pilot's health, she said, "we don't know the situation."

flydubai incident LIVE updates: The United Arab Emirates on Thursday said it was investigating a possible "terrorist" link to an apparent attack by a co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight to Israel, after passengers intervened to prevent the aircraft from crashing.

The dramatic incident on Wednesday ended with passengers receiving a hero's welcome from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after they arrived back in Israel from Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made an emergency landing.

Netanyahu credited flydubai pilot and Indian national Smit Machchhar, along with the passengers, with averting a potential catastrophe after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and attempted to crash the plane.

Passengers said they rushed towards the cockpit after the aircraft suddenly plunged, losing around 17,000 feet in altitude within a minute, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

The UAE's chief prosecutor said an investigation had been launched into the incident, including the possibility of "terrorist activity or intent".

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israel will reportedly honour Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the attack aboard a nearly doomed flydubai flight, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar said on Thursday, calling the Indian pilot a “great hero” for helping save the lives of passengers despite being seriously injured.

“He indeed is a great hero. And India and Israel are great partners in the war. We will find a way to recognise him,” Azar said in an exclusive conversation with India Today.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel announced in a post on X on Thursday that Capt. Smit Machchhar will be honoured with the “Visisht Gujarat Garima Award”.

“This valiant son of Gujarat has illuminated the name of Gujarat and the nation across the globe through his heroism. The Gujarati spirit flowing in his veins fills us all with immense pride. To honor his extraordinary act of bravery and humanity, the Government of Gujarat will bestow upon Captain Smit Machhar the ‘Visisht Gujarat Garima Award’,” he wrote.

flydubai incident LIVE updates: Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Thursday that he would present "heroism" awards to four Israelis who helped overpower a flydubai co-pilot and stopped him from crashing the aircraft.

"You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society," Herzog said in a statement.

"I am proud of you, and I thank you on behalf of the State of Israel."

Herzog also praised Indian pilot Smit Machchha, who Israeli officials said opened the cockpit door despite being stabbed by the co-pilot, allowing passengers and crew to save the plane.

“To Captain Smith Machhar - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you,” he said.

flydubai incident LIVE: Indian envoy to the UAE Deepak Mittal met the family of Captain Smit Machchhar in Dubai on Thursday. The Indian pilot was hailed as a "hero" for foiling his co-pilot's alleged attempt to crash a flydubai flight carrying nearly 180 people. Mittal also updated the family on his health and recovery.

Accompanied by Indian Consul General to Dubai Emmadi Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Mittal met Machchhar's family and assured them of the Indian government's full support and assistance for his welfare and well-being.

"Ambassador of India to the UAE met Captain Smit Machchhar's family in Dubai and conveyed the Government of India's full support and assistance for his welfare and wellbeing," ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

The Indian mission in the UAE said the country was "immensely proud of Captain Smit for his exceptional bravery and selfless service."