Indian pilot stable after cockpit assault on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot commanding the Dubai-Tel Aviv service, is reported to be in stable condition following an alleged assault by the aircraft's Omani co-pilot during flight. The co-pilot is currently in custody pending investigation. Despite sustaining serious injuries in the cockpit incident, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to intervene. Witnesses overpowered the assailant, restoring control of the aircraft. The Flydubai flight was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia, where all 174 passengers and crew members disembarked safely without further incident. Authorities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel have launched concurrent investigations into the occurrence. The incident marks a serious breach of aviation safety protocols and has prompted heightened scrutiny of security procedures aboard commercial flights operating in the region. Officials from the three nations are coordinating their inquiries to establish a complete account of events leading to and following the alleged attack in the cockpit.