A wounded flydubai captain has been credited with helping save 174 passengers after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife inside the cockpit during a flight to Saudi Arabia.
The attack caused the aircraft to lose nearly 4,300 metres of altitude in less than 30 seconds, according to reports.
Despite suffering severe injuries to his head and arms, the captain managed to activate the mechanism that opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and subdue the attacker.
Among those who helped restrain the attacker was Shota Musaev, an Israeli dentist of Georgian descent. As the only doctor on board, Musaev also provided first aid to the injured captain, helping to stop the heavy bleeding and stabilise his condition.
The aircraft was eventually brought safely to the Saudi city of Tabuk, where the captain was taken for medical treatment and later underwent surgery. India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia subsequently said his condition was stable.
The plane was ultimately landed by two relief flydubai pilots who were travelling on board as a contingency in case the diversion extended the flight beyond the main crew’s permitted flying hours.
The identities and nationalities of the two relief pilots have not been consistently reported. The Guardian reported that one was British, while Israel Hayom reported that the pair included Russian and Ukrainian nationals. Russian authorities later denied that a Russian citizen was among the pilots.
The captain’s actions have drawn praise from Israeli and Indian leaders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X that the captain had saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and nationals of other countries.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the injured pilot, describing him as a “hero” and commending his courage in protecting the passengers.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has also indicated plans to honour four Israeli passengers who helped subdue the attacker.
According to Reuters, the co-pilot accused of carrying out the attack is an Omani national and is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
The incident has drawn attention to the captain’s actions, the passengers who intervened and the relief pilots who helped bring the aircraft safely to the ground following the cockpit attack.