Indian Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is in stable condition and receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after being seriously injured in a mid-air cockpit attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said it is closely monitoring his condition and is in contact with his family and Saudi authorities. A detailed medical update on the 39-year-old pilot is still awaited.
Machchhar was the captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 people when a violent confrontation broke out in the cockpit on Wednesday. According to accounts from Israeli officials and passengers, the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed Machchhar before attempting to interfere with the aircraft's controls. The aircraft subsequently went into a rapid descent before the situation was brought under control. The exact motive behind the incident remains under investigation.
Dentist recalls treating badly injured pilot
Israeli dentist Dr Shota Musayev, who was travelling on the flight, rushed towards the cockpit after hearing screams. He said he found Machchhar in extremely serious condition, with heavy bleeding, particularly from his head and hands.
Musayev said he was the only doctor on board and immediately began providing emergency medical assistance. He managed to stop the bleeding and stabilise Machchhar's blood pressure. The dentist said the pilot had lost a significant amount of blood and that his condition was critical at the time.
According to Musayev's account, Machchhar was covered in severe cuts and had briefly lost consciousness. The dentist and other passengers continued assisting him while others dealt with the attacker.
Pilot helped passengers regain access to cockpit
Despite being seriously wounded, Machchhar reportedly managed to activate the cockpit door release. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and help restrain the attacker.
Off-duty pilots travelling as passengers subsequently assisted with controlling the aircraft. The plane was diverted to Tabuk, where it made an emergency landing. Machchhar and the other pilot were taken to hospital, while the passengers were later transported onward to Israel.
The Indian Embassy has confirmed that Machchhar is currently receiving treatment in Tabuk and is in stable condition. Officials have not released a detailed medical bulletin, so the full extent of his injuries and his recovery timeline remain unclear.
Who is Smit Machchhar?
Machchhar is a Mumbai-born Indian pilot who joined Flydubai in 2022 after spending around 11 years with SpiceJet. Reuters reported that he has a 15-year flying career and around 9,750 hours of flying experience.
His actions during the incident have drawn praise from Indian and Israeli officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Machchhar as a hero and said his actions helped protect the lives of those on board. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the captain's bravery.
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other authorities are investigating the incident to establish what happened inside the cockpit and the circumstances surrounding the attack. Flydubai has confirmed that a security incident occurred in the flight deck and said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after the emergency landing.
