Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry says that a preliminary investigation into the emergency landing of a Flydubai flight this week found that “the pilot was assaulted by his co-pilot, resulting in various injuries to both”.
asserted
pilot → say → both
the ministry said on Thursday that an initial investigation into the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was conducted by Saudi authorities with the participation of a security team from the United Arab Emirates.
asserted
investigation → say → Emirates
Recommended Stories
list of 2 items- list 1 of 2Flydubai stabbing: How safe are planes if a pilot turns violent?
- list 2 of 2Who is Capt. Smit, Machchhar, the pilot of the Flydubai flight?
asserted
Smit → turn → flight
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was on its way from the UAE to Israel on Wednesday when a violent incident occurred that forced it to make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz international airport in Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
asserted
that → occur → Arabia
Flydubai said on the day that “an altercation occurred in the flight deck”, and that crew members secured the plane and diverted it safely.
asserted
members → say → it
In its statement, the Saudi Interior Ministry said that, after the aircraft was cleared for emergency landing, it arrived “safely” at 9:45am local time (06:45 GMT) with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board.
asserted
it → say → board
“All necessary care was provided.”
asserted
care → provide → ?
At about 5:40pm that day, all the passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft, while the rest of the crew – besides the captain and co-pilot – returned to Dubai on another flight, it added.
asserted
it → continue → flight
The captain and co-pilot “were taken to hospital for treatment based on an assessment of their condition”.
asserted
captain → take → condition
After their condition improved and they were medically cleared, the captain and co-pilot left Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning, accompanied by the Emirati security team, the ministry said.
asserted
ministry → improve → team
Saudi Arabia “handles emergencies in line with its international and humanitarian obligations”, the ministry added, citing the readiness of its aviation and security systems to respond to exceptional cases.
asserted
ministry → handle → cases
Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center said its investigation team had begun work on the incident and was coordinating with authorities to determine the circumstances and collect relevant evidence.
asserted
team → say → evidence
Captain Machchhar showed ‘immense courage’
asserted
Machchhar → show → courage
Earlier on Thursday, the UAE chief prosecutor, Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, launched an investigation into the cockpit fight on board the Flydubai flight.
asserted
prosecutor → launch → flight
Investigators will examine the circumstances and motives behind the incident, and whether it was linked to any “terrorist activity or intent” or involved prior planning or direction, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.
asserted
WAM → examine → planning
The captain of flight FZ1073 is an Indian national, Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured.
asserted
who → injure → FZ1073
Although the incident is still under investigation, his actions to apparently thwart a midair disaster have drawn praise from world leaders and those who knew him.
asserted
who → thwart → him
Machchhar was taken to hospital in Tabuk in stable condition on Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said.
asserted
Embassy → take → Riyadh
India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Machchhar was moved to Abu Dhabi for continued treatment on Thursday.
asserted
Machchhar → confirm → Thursday
India’s ambassador to the UAE paid a visit to the captain and his family was briefed on his recovery.
asserted
family → pay → recovery
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called Machchhar a hero.
asserted
Modi → call → Machchhar
“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.
asserted
he → injure → others
His valor helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” Modi wrote on X.
asserted
Modi → help → X.
The Aporia
