International
oi-Ashish Rana
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has received praise from Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum after surviving a violent attack inside the cockpit of a flight bound for Israel.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar survived a stabbing by his co-pilot during flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, later receiving praise from Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan for his courage following the flight’s emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Dubai Crown Prince Visits Smit Machchhar
Machchhar was seriously injured when his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him during flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday. The aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv at the time of the incident.
The Dubai Crown Prince visited Machchhar in hospital on Saturday and shared photographs of the meeting on X, commending the pilot for his actions during the emergency.
Hamdan, who is also the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said the flydubai pilot had “embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.”
“From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” he said.
“We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life,” the crown prince added.
Indian Embassy Shares Health Update
The Indian Embassy in the UAE earlier said Machchhar was recovering well and remained under medical care.
“Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well. We are in touch with his family & local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery,” the embassy said in a post on X on Saturday.
During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.
From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise.
We are proud that he is part of our… pic.twitter.com/QgpQxdcK5C
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) October 3, 2026
The embassy also thanked the UAE government for providing medical care to Machchhar and said it joined well-wishers in praying for his recovery.
Co-Pilot Accused Of Attempting Terrorist Act
The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said the co-pilot attempted to carry out a “terrorist act” on Wednesday.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot used a crash axe to attack Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, according to earlier reports.
The co-pilot who attacked Machchhar has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the matter.
Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Saudi Arabia
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet before making an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk.
After receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care.
