UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash called the attack aboard a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv a “dangerous terrorist act,” the first such characterization by an Emirati official, and praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for resisting the attacker. The UAE had previously announced an investigation into possible terrorist motives, prior planning or direction.

Machchhar, speaking from his hospital bed in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, described opening the cockpit door while wounded and still being assaulted as the aircraft descended. That allowed passengers and crew to intervene. “Everyone took an equal part in it,” he said. “What I did was to save my life, but at the same time, I knew I couldn't let everyone else die.”

Flight FZ1073, carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30, landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot and additional Flydubai pilots aboard took control. Saudi Arabia’s initial investigation found that the co-pilot assaulted the captain. Both pilots were transferred to Abu Dhabi after medical clearance, and the passengers reached Israel aboard a replacement aircraft.