Georgian doctor saves Flydubai captain after attack

The Times of Israel

Georgian dentist Shota Musaev helped save the badly wounded captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, The Times of Israel reports. During the flight, the co-pilot attacked the captain with a knife and tried to crash the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Attempted terrorist attack on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight

The Omani co-pilot of the Flydubai flight attacked the captain with a knife and tried to crash the aircraft. NEWSru.co.il reports that he put the Boeing into a steep descent: in less than 30 seconds, the plane lost more than 14,000 feet, or over 4 km, of altitude. Israeli authorities are treating the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.

The captain, Smith Machhar of India, suffered serious stab wounds but managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew members subdued and restrained the co-pilot. Two members of the reserve crew who were on board stabilized the aircraft and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israel Hayom reported that they were a Russian and a Ukrainian who were travelling on the same flight. Other versions later emerged, mentioning nationals of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Africa. Flydubai confirmed that a reserve crew took over but did not disclose their identities, nationalities or exact composition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the actions of the captain and passengers helped avert a disaster on the scale of 9/11. The motive for the attack and any possible links to terrorist organizations have not yet been officially established.

Who is Shota Musaev?

Shota Musaev was returning from China to Israel via Dubai with his wife. At first, he intended to help stop the attacker. He then realized that his priority was the captain, who had suffered multiple stab wounds and was the only person on board in need of urgent medical care — there were no other doctors among the passengers.

Musaev stopped the bleeding, stabilized the captain’s blood pressure and monitored his condition until the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. The commander remained in serious condition, but the measures taken on board helped keep him stable until he was handed over to medical staff. After returning to Israel, Musaev said he did not consider himself a hero. He stressed that the tragedy was averted thanks to the combined actions of the passengers and crew.

Shota Musaev is Georgian and a graduate of Tbilisi State Medical University. He now lives in Israel with his family and works as a dentist. For his actions on board, Israeli President Isaac Herzog recommended him for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism, together with three passengers who took part in subduing the attacker.

Flydubai suspends flights to Israel

After the attack on the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight, Israel’s Shin Bet security service recommended temporarily suspending air links with the UAE until the initial review was completed. Flydubai subsequently halted flights on the route. No date has yet been announced for their resumption.

Israel has also tightened checks on flight crews. Airlines serving the country must provide more information about their pilots in advance, while their backgrounds are being scrutinized more closely. The new requirements apply to both domestic and foreign carriers. Particular attention is being paid to cockpit security, as in this case the threat came from a crew member who had legitimate access and had passed standard security checks.

Several countries are involved in the investigation. The co-pilot remains in custody in Saudi Arabia, where he is being questioned. In the UAE, the attorney general ordered investigators on October 1 to establish all the circumstances of the attack and examine a possible terrorist motive. Investigators are also looking into whether the suspect acted alone and whether he had links to any organizations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed agreed to cooperate and exchange information. There is still no confirmed evidence linking the suspect to terrorist organizations.