UAE Calls Flydubai Plane Incident a Terrorist Act for First Time

Anwar Gargash, Advisor to the President of the United Arab Emirates, stated on Friday, October 2, that the attempted crash of a Flydubai plane on Wednesday, September 30, was a "terrorist act." This marks the first official designation of the incident by UAE authorities. The investigation into the event is currently being conducted in the Emirates.

Gargash announced this on social media platform X, commenting on an account by pilot Smith Machchar, who had spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier that morning. Gargash praised Machchar, writing, "The Flydubai airline pilot deserves the highest praise. Faced with a dangerous terrorist act and a potential catastrophe, he demonstrated the true meaning of courage and responsibility. The professionalism and moral fortitude he displayed in extremely difficult circumstances make him a true hero." He added, "Without resorting to interpretations or promoting conspiracy theories, it is necessary to remain vigilant and cautious in the face of threats related to extremism and terrorism."

Israel had previously been cautious in labeling the incident a terrorist act. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated that the investigation into the attacker's motives was ongoing. However, Defense Minister Israel Katz had declared on Wednesday evening that the "serious incident on board the plane was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack." Netanyahu told reporters in the U.S. the previous day that while he could not confirm Iranian involvement until the investigation concluded, "We will get to the bottom of it and find out everything about the attacker, whether he had accomplices and whether Iran was behind him. I think we will find out very soon. It is premature to talk about it now."

The investigation into the attempted plane crash was transferred to the UAE on Thursday, October 1, after the Indian pilot and the Omani co-pilot were brought to the Emirates, the country from which the flight to Israel had departed on Wednesday. Israel had requested permission for its representatives to participate in the investigation of the pilots' actions in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as observers, but Riyadh did not agree. Now, with the co-pilot transferred to the Emirates, Israel hopes for good relations with Abu Dhabi and close cooperation with UAE authorities to gain the opportunity to participate as actively as possible in the investigation, even as an observer.

Commander Smith Machchar appeared publicly for the first time on Friday, October 2, since the incident. While in the hospital, he spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described the final moments before he managed to prevent the catastrophe. "I had so many injuries that I fell. I have been a captain for 11 years. Even with my eyes closed, I understand what is happening with the plane. When I fell, I felt the plane start to descend sharply, the nose going down, and I understood that these were the final seconds. I tried to crawl. I opened the door and immediately after that everyone else came to help," the pilot recounted. He stated that he received medical assistance in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, receiving excellent care. Machchar later added, "I realized that if I didn't show courage, 170 passengers would die."

Narendra Modi thanked the pilot for his actions, saying, "The entire country is praying for you. Your courage, composure, and calmness saved many lives. The country can proudly say that Indians are not those who take lives, but those who are ready to risk their own lives to save others." Smith Machchar, visibly emotional, responded to Modi, "You are my idol. I never thought I would have the opportunity to speak with you."