Two more flydubai pilots arrested in Dubai over suspected terror plot: Reports say

The two men, both Maldivian nationals employed by flydubai, were taken into custody last Saturday, according to reports.

Maldivian news outlet Adhadhu reported that the Maldivian Embassy in the UAE had informed their families that the pilots were being held.

Both men are also reported to have travelled to Israel in the past.

However, the allegations against them remain unconfirmed by an official public announcement, and neither has been publicly charged, according to the available reports.

Arrests linked to earlier cockpit incident

The two pilots are reportedly among the latest recruits from the six Maldivian pilots employed by flydubai.

Reports suggest they had worked alongside Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to take control of a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

The alleged incident involved flydubai flight FZ1073. According to reports, al-Hammami attacked the aircraft's Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe and attempted to take control of the plane.

The airline described the incident as an “altercation” on the flight deck.

The circumstances surrounding the latest arrests, including the nature of the suspected plot and any alleged links between the two pilots and al-Hammami, remain unclear.

Indian captain credited with preventing aircraft takeover

Captain Machchhar reportedly managed to fend off the attack and open the cockpit door. An Israeli passenger is said to have entered the cockpit and helped restrain the accused.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, according to the airline.

Machchhar, an Indian national with more than 13 years of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft, joined flydubai in 2022.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the captain, calling him a “HERO”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described him as a “true hero” who saved 174 lives.

India's embassy in the UAE later said Machchhar was recovering well in a hospital in the country. The Indian ambassador also met members of his family.

Passenger's account raises further questions

A passenger identified as Assaf has reportedly made additional allegations about events aboard the aircraft after the alleged assault.

According to his account, crew members attempted to loosen the accused co-pilot's restraints and discouraged passengers from recording the incident.

He also alleged that someone tried to place a mysterious pill in the injured captain's mouth.

The passenger further claimed that the flight had been staffed exclusively by male cabin crew members, fuelling speculation about whether the alleged attacker might have had assistance from others on board.

These assertions remain unverified and have not been independently confirmed by authorities. No official evidence has been presented in the information available to establish that other crew members were involved.

Alleged plot to crash plane at Ben Gurion Airport

Reports have suggested that the alleged objective of the September 30 incident was to crash the aircraft at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

However, the full circumstances of the alleged plot, the evidence behind the accusations and whether the latest arrests are directly connected to the earlier incident have not been officially established.

The reported detentions have added another dimension to the case, but the absence of publicly announced charges or a detailed official statement means the allegations against the two newly detained pilots remain unproven.