Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Incident Highlights: Saudi Arabian authorities have handed over the flydubai co-pilot accused of stabbing the Indian captain during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv as investigators try to establish the motive behind the midair assault.
The co-pilot, an Omani national, had stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar during a flight on Wednesday morning. Hearing noises, passengers and crew rushed into the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot as the Boeing 737 plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
A second pair of flydubai pilots aboard the flight — which was carrying over 172 passengers and crew — then landed the jet safely in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk.
Machchhar, who is currently stable, has now been taken to Dubai.