Flydubai Captain Stabbed Mid-Air Identified as Indian National

The identity of the Flydubai captain who was stabbed during a mid-air incident has been revealed as Smit Mehr, an Indian national. The dramatic events unfolded on a Flydubai flight that was temporarily diverted to Saudi Arabia before returning to Israel. According to sources speaking to India Today, the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, stabbed Captain Mehr and attempted to crash the plane. Passengers and other crew members intervened to regain control of the aircraft after it entered a spin and began to dive. They reportedly broke into the cockpit to find the co-pilot attempting to seize control of the plane's systems. Captain Mehr joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a captain on a direct entry track, having previously spent nearly 11 years with SpiceJet. He is described as a Boeing 737 fleet expert with experience in safety and compliance, and also served as a mentor to other pilots. Israeli officials stated that both pilots were injured and taken to a hospital following the landing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the incident as a "most serious security event" and confirmed that Saudi authorities would investigate the co-pilot, who was arrested after landing. An Israeli source identified the attacker as an Omani citizen.