UAE Official Calls Flydubai Incident 'Serious Terrorist Act'

Anwar Gargash, advisor to the UAE President, declared on Friday that the incident aboard a Flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv on Wednesday was a "serious terrorist act." He praised the "courage" of the pilot who was attacked by his co-pilot. Gargash stated on the "X" platform that the Indian pilot "deserves all appreciation" for embodying "courage and responsibility" in the face of a "serious terrorist act and potential disaster." He added that vigilance is necessary to confront the dangers of extremism and terrorism, warning against "easy reductionism or the adoption and promotion of conspiracy theories." This marks the first time a UAE official has labeled the incident a "terrorist act."

UAE judicial authorities confirmed on Thursday they had begun investigating the incident, with the public prosecutor ordering an examination of any potential links to "terrorist activity or intent." Israel stated that the co-pilot assaulted the pilot with the aim of taking control of the aircraft and attempting to crash it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the co-pilot had undergone "indoctrination in extremist Islamic ideology" and quoted the attacker as shouting, "Kill me, kill me," suggesting he was a "suicide attacker."

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with a "very strong blow" on Thursday if its involvement in the incident is proven, stating he leans towards this possibility. The circumstances and motives of the attacker are still under investigation. According to passenger accounts, the co-pilot stabbed the pilot intending to bring down the plane, but the pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and subdue the attacker.

The captain of the Flydubai flight, Sumit Machar, informed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday that he acted to protect the passengers. Modi shared a video of his video call with Machar, who was in a hospital bed. Machar recounted, "I was trying to save my life, but I knew I couldn't let all these (passengers) die." Machar, a pilot with 17 years of experience, described realizing the plane was falling while he was injured on the ground and his effort to prevent a catastrophe. He said, "I had sustained a number of injuries that made me collapse. Then, I felt the plane falling. I knew this was the last attempt, and the (cockpit) door was close to me." He added that he opened the door, and "everyone entered." Modi stated that his compatriot's actions helped save hundreds of lives and avoid a "great tragedy." The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers including 166 Israelis, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai reported a dispute in the cockpit that triggered a distress signal.