Days after the Flydubai flight incident when an Omani co-pilot attempted to hijack a Tel Aviv-bound plane, Air France has banned Pakistani pilots and crew from operating on flights to and from Israel. The move has come after Israel imposed restrictions on airline crew from countries with whom it doesn't share diplomatic relations. Oman is one of the countries that doesn't have diplomatic ties with Israel.
\n\nOn September 30, a possible mid-air hijacking and crash attempt aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 was foiled when Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. The plane was bound to Tel Aviv.
\n\nThe Omani co-pilot attacked Captain Machchhar with an axe in an attempt to bring down the aircraft. Despite suffering severe injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlatch the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to enter and restrain the attacker.
\n\nThe confrontation triggered a steep descent, with the aircraft dropping approximately 16,000 feet within two minutes before a hijacking distress signal was transmitted.
\n\nThe aircraft was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 180 occupants disembarking without injury.
\n\nCaptain Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi after sustaining…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/latest-news
