A senior adviser to the UAE president has described the attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 as a “terrorist act” and praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during the mid-air emergency. Anwar Gargash, adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said Machchhar deserved appreciation for confronting what he described as a serious terrorist incident and bravely facing a situation that could have resulted in a major disaster. His remarks came two days after the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a confrontation inside the cockpit. The UAE has separately ordered an investigation into the incident, including whether it involved terrorist activity, prior planning or direction.

Gargash said vigilance and precaution were necessary in the face of extremism and terrorism while praising the Indian pilot's response during the incident. His comments represent the first known statement by a senior UAE official explicitly describing the alleged attack as a terrorist act. Earlier, Israeli officials had also characterised the incident as an attempted terror attack, although the UAE investigation into the circumstances and motive remains underway. The UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, ordered a specialised team from the Public Prosecution to establish what happened aboard the aircraft and determine whether the incident had any connection to terrorist activity or involved prior planning or direction. Authorities have also urged the public to avoid speculation while investigators examine the evidence.

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv. During the flight, Captain Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, leading to a violent confrontation inside the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude rapidly, plunging from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly a minute, according to reports. Machchhar, despite being seriously injured, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and help restrain the alleged attacker. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Initial reports said the flight had 174 passengers and eight crew members, while later accounts have referred to 182 people aboard.

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Machchhar suffered multiple injuries in the confrontation and was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical care. India's External Affairs Ministry said it was closely monitoring his condition, while India's ambassador to the UAE visited him in hospital and met his family. In a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar described the ordeal and said his flying experience helped him recognise that the aircraft was rapidly descending even after he had been knocked down. He said he realised he needed to get back on his feet because otherwise passengers could lose their lives. Modi praised the captain's courage, patience and presence of mind, while other political leaders have also publicly recognised his actions.

The UAE investigation is being conducted because the aircraft is registered in the country and operates under its aviation regulatory framework. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country has jurisdiction to investigate crimes committed aboard UAE-registered aircraft, even when such incidents occur outside UAE territory. The investigation team is working with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other UAE agencies to establish the sequence of events, circumstances and possible motive. Saudi authorities have also investigated the incident, with an official source saying the pilots were assaulted and both sustained injuries. The identity and nationality of the alleged attacker have been the subject of conflicting reports, while investigators have not publicly established a motive. The UAE has urged the media and public not to circulate unverified information as the probe continues.

The incident has raised broader questions about aviation security, cockpit access and the circumstances that preceded the confrontation. Aviation authorities and investigators will have to determine how the alleged attack unfolded, what led to the confrontation and whether there was any advance planning or wider connection to terrorism. The aircraft's rapid descent and subsequent safe diversion have also focused attention on the actions of the injured captain, passengers and crew members who helped regain control of the situation. For now, the UAE adviser’s description of the incident as a “terrorist act” remains an official characterisation while the investigation continues to establish the facts, motive and any potential links to terrorist activity. Machchhar, meanwhile, remains under medical care in Abu Dhabi as Indian authorities continue to monitor his recovery.

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