Modi praises Tel Aviv flight co-pilot credited with preventing disaster amid investigation
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Capt. Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai captain credited with intervening to help save the flight from disaster on Wednesday.
"Captain Smit Machchhar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11 like attack from happening," Modi said on Thursday morning.
Investigators continue to search for clues and more information about the incident inside the cockpit of Flight 1073, where an unidentified co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and tried to bring down the plane, according to Israeli officials.
Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to remove the suspect and take control of the plane, stabilizing it before a third pilot took over.
The captain was treated in Saudi Arabia after the plane landed.
The Indian consulate in Dubai said India's ambassador and consul general in the UAE met with Machchhar's family members.
"They briefed the family about Captain Machchhar’s health & recovery, conveyed that the Embassy & Consulate are in touch with the UAE authorities, and assured the family of continued support," the statement said.
The Saudi government and Indian Consulate said that Machchhar was transferred to a hospital Thursday in the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. The Saudis added that the rest of the plane's crew was sent to Dubai.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates have opened an investigation into the incident, the state news agency WAM reported Thursday.
The unidentified co-pilot suspect is currently in custody.
The UAE attorney general ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances and motives behind the incident and "determine whether it was linked to any terrorist activity or prior planning," WAM said.
UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction over the investigation because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its flag, meaning offenses committed on board are subject to UAE law even when they occur outside the country, the statement said.
The flight took off from Dubai at 7:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to Flightradar24.
Tracking data showed the aircraft descended rapidly from 34,000 to 16,000 feet in three minutes.
About 10 minutes after the initial descent, the plane's squawk code -- used by aircraft to communicate with air traffic control -- changed to "general emergency." Seven minutes later, the squawk code changed again, indicating a hijacking or "unlawful interference."
The aircraft then continued flying at an average altitude of about 15,000 feet until it landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, roughly an hour to an hour and a half after the rapid descent began and the emergency signals were sent.
FlyDubai confirmed that the flight "experienced an incident while en route" and landed in Tabuk.
