UAE official says Flydubai attack 'terrorist act' as he praises pilot

A senior UAE official said Friday that the incident aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel this week was a "terrorist act".

Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash praised the captain who helped stop the plane from crashing after his co-pilot attacked him.

What did the UAE official say about the Flydubai attack?

Gargash said on X that Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was a "true hero" and deserved "every appreciation". He called the incident a serious terrorist act and a potential disaster. Gargash also warned that vigilance and caution remain essential against extremism and terrorism.

"In confronting a serious terrorist act and a potential disaster, he embodied the true meaning of courage and responsibility," Gargash said. "Vigilance and caution remain essential in the face of the dangers of extremism and terrorism," he added.

What happened on the Flydubai flight?

The aircraft carrying 174 people was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the pilot was stabbed by his co-pilot. The plane was carrying mostly Israeli passengers, and the flight had eight crew members.

The exact circumstances of the incident and the motive of the assailant are under investigation in the United Arab Emirates, where the two men have been transferred.

What did pilot Smit Machchhar say about the attack?

Machchhar, in his first public remarks since the incident, said Friday that he had made one "last push" to unlock the cockpit door during the attack.

That allowed passengers and crew to intervene and regain control of the aircraft.