Two Maldivian pilots who were detained overseas in connection with an alleged attempt to hijack a Flydubai aircraft have been questioned by Maldives Police Service and allowed to return to their families, with authorities confirming that no action has been taken against them.
The pilots arrived in the Maldives on Friday afternoon after being detained in connection with an incident involving a Flydubai flight reportedly travelling from Dubai to Israel.
Police Spokesperson Ahmed Shiyam told Sun that both pilots were summoned to the police station on Friday night, where officers obtained their statements.
Following the questioning, the two men were allowed to return home, with police confirming that no further action had been taken against either individual.
Their return follows reports that the pilots had been held overseas in connection with an alleged hijacking attempt involving a Flydubai aircraft carrying more than 170 passengers.
According to Middle East Monitor, citing the Israeli publication Keepa, the families of the two Maldivian pilots were left without information about their whereabouts for several days after their detention.
The families reportedly learned that the men had been taken into custody only after receiving information from the Maldivian Embassy.
The case centres on a reported confrontation aboard the Flydubai aircraft, during which a member of the flight crew allegedly attacked the captain while the aircraft was in flight.
According to accounts of the incident, the first officer attacked the captain approximately two and a half hours into the journey.
UAE Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi was reported to have stated that the aircraft lost approximately 17,000 feet, equivalent to 5,200 metres, in altitude during the incident.
Passengers reportedly intervened during the confrontation, helping to bring the situation under control.
Two other pilots aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and landed the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.
The captain, identified in reports as Indian national Smith Machhar, sustained injuries during the confrontation.
He initially received treatment at a nearby hospital before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical care. Reports indicate that his condition is stable.
The incident has been linked in media reports to allegations of an attempted hijacking and a possible terrorist attack, although the precise circumstances and the alleged motive remain matters requiring confirmation.
The reported involvement of the two Maldivian pilots has also raised questions about their connection to the incident.
However, the information released by Maldives Police does not establish that either pilot participated in the alleged attack or attempted hijacking.
Their questioning following their return to the Maldives does not, in itself, indicate that they have been charged with an offence.
The case has attracted attention because of the seriousness of the reported incident and the involvement of aviation personnel, with the aircraft ultimately making an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia.
Incidents involving attempts to interfere with an aircraft’s operation are treated as serious aviation security matters, particularly when they involve violence against flight crew or attempts to gain control of an aircraft.
The reported detention of the Maldivian pilots also highlights the role of diplomatic authorities in assisting nationals held overseas and communicating information to their families.
For now, the two pilots have returned to their families after providing statements to police.
Maldivian authorities have not announced any charges against them or disclosed whether further questioning will be required.
