UAE President Meets Flydubai Pilot After Mid-Air Attack, Offers Jiu-Jitsu Training

President Sheikh Mohamed met flydubai captain Smit Machchhar and his crew in Abu Dhabi following the September 30 incident in which a co-pilot attempted to seize control of Flight 1073. The aircraft, after a rapid descent of about 17,000 feet, was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia and landed safely, allowing more than 170 passengers to evacuate unharmed.

During the event, Sheikh Mohamed asked about the captain’s recovery, noting his head stitches and arm sling, and said the pilot’s healing period would be about two months. He then suggested a future jiu-jitsu training session, saying, "> So, I have an idea. When you heal, I want to have a session with you to train you how to fight, adding that jiu-jitsu would be the way to go."

The president also told the crew, "> Whatever happened in your life, the UAE is your country. And there is a home for you here and you have a family."

Sheikh Mohamed presented the First Class Order of Zayed II to the crew, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed conferring the honour and praising their actions. Other UAE leaders, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan, attended the ceremony and emphasized the nation’s commitment to passenger safety.

UAE prosecutors later identified the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot as the mastermind of a terrorist plot inspired by the September 11 attacks. The investigation found that the suspect had met all standard hiring and security checks, which did not reveal his extremist intentions.