As the UAE authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the flydubai flight incident, they have cautioned against oversimplifying the incident, speculation or premature conclusions before the investigation is completed.
At the same time, Captain Smit’s courage and swift response during the incident continues to draw praise from across the UAE.
The UAE’s civil aviation regulator, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said that investigation into the incident is continuing under approved procedures, with confidentiality and integrity; and in coordination with relevant regional and international authorities.
The GCAA said it would not comment on details or claims in circulation that could pre-empt the findings or affect the course of the investigation at this stage.
It urged the public to refrain from circulating speculation or unverified information. GCAA commended the courage and swift response of Captain Smit, the crew and passengers.
Flydubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said all passengers and crew on board are safe and being cared for.
He thanked the captain, the pilots who secured and landed the aircraft, the cabin crew and passengers who assisted during the challenging situation.
Flydubai has temporarily suspended its operations to Tel Aviv at the request of the authorities while the investigation continues.
He acknowledged that there are many questions about what happened on board FZ1073, saying a full official investigation is underway to establish the facts.
He said flydubai is fully supporting the investigation and stressed the importance of allowing the process to take its course.
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President of UAE, also praised Captain Smit’s bravery.
In a social media post, he said the Indian pilot demonstrated courage and responsibility in confronting what he described as a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster.
He also cautioned against oversimplifying the incident or promoting conspiracy theories, stressing the need for vigilance and caution in addressing the risks of extremism and terrorism.