FlyDubai pilot Smit Machchhar, who survived an axe attack by his co-pilot and prevented the aircraft from crashing

I joined India’s WION on Saturday morning to analyze what we know and don’t know about Wednesday’s axe attack on the pilot — by his co-pilot — of the FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

I review the incident, which threatened to crash the aircraft with 182 passengers. Pilot Smit Machchhar was seriously wounded but managed to open the cockpit door. Four men subdued the co-pilot. One of them, a plumber, pulled the plane out of its two off-duty pilots guided it to safety.

As the co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, is being questioned, a series of claims have been leaked to the media about him and his possible motive.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations, I caution that — amid the War on Iran and Israel’s forthcoming election — it is essential to avoid speculation and to rely on verified, unbiased information.