'Terrorist act': UAE official on flydubai attack, praises India pilot Smit Machchhar

UAE authorities are probing the flydubai cockpit incident as pilot Smit Machchhar receives praise for helping avert a potential disaster NEW DELHI: A UAE official has described the mid-air incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 as a “terrorist act” while praising Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his role in ensuring the aircraft landed safely, news agency AFP reported on Friday.The incident involved an alleged attack on Machchhar by his co-pilot. Machchhar was injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.Three Israeli passengers reportedly helped subdue the attacker, while two additional pilots onboard took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia.ALSO READ: Paid for 10 weight-loss sessions but attended only 4: How woman still won Rs 86,200 from wellness clinicThis comes a day after UAE ordered a specialised investigation into the incident, involving an alleged attempt by an Omani co-pilot to crash the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. The probe will examine the circumstances and motives, including any possible links to terrorist activity, prior planning or direction.The flight departed from Dubai International Airport for Tel Aviv but w...