Flydubai Mid-Air Attack: India Examining Incident From Security Angle, Aviation Review Likely | India News
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Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha said the government was examining the developments arising from the incident and assessing the matter from a security perspective.
The roles and preparedness of various agencies involved in aviation security could also be examined as part of the exercise.(Representative image)
India is examining the Flydubai incident from a security perspective, with aviation security measures likely to undergo a comprehensive review following the alleged mid-air attack on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar by his Omani co-pilot.
Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha said the government was examining the developments arising from the incident and assessing the matter from a security perspective.
“India is examining the matter. The security perspective is being looked into,” Sinha said during a briefing.
He added that the Ministry of Civil Aviation was working on the developments arising from the Flydubai incident. “If any advisory is needed, the higher authority will be apprised about it,” the Civil Aviation Secretary said.
It is worth noting that CNN-News18 was the first channel to report that a thorough review of aviation security will be done.
Also Read | Headphone Cords, Zip Ties & A Chokehold: How Passengers Subdued Flydubai Flight Attacker
Aviation Security Measures Under Review
According to official sources, aviation security in India is likely to undergo an intensive review in the wake of the incident, in which the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot-in-command while the aircraft was in flight.
The review could include existing standard operating procedures related to aviation security, including psychometric assessments conducted by airlines and the deployment of Sky Marshals on sensitive routes, sources said.
The roles and preparedness of various agencies involved in aviation security could also be examined as part of the exercise.
These include airlines as well as security agencies such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and National Security Guard (NSG), which has specialised capabilities for responding to hijack situations. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) could also review existing protocols within their respective domains.
Officials are expected to examine whether any changes or additional safeguards are required to prevent similar incidents involving threats from within the cockpit.
The development comes after the Flydubai incident triggered a security scare on Wednesday, after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot-in-command, leaving him critically injured while the aircraft was airborne. The Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the Tel Aviv-bound flight, carrying over 170 passengers.
The incident has prompted authorities to examine whether existing aviation security protocols adequately address the possibility of an attack involving a member of the cockpit crew.
Quick Answers
Ask News18India is examining the Flydubai incident from a security perspective, with the Ministry of Civil Aviation actively working on developments arising from the event. Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Sinha stated that the government is assessing the matter and will apprise higher authorities if any advisory is needed.
Ask News18About the Author
Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited jou…Read More
October 01, 2026, 17:22 IST
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