Dubai, Oct 3: Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is “recovering well” and receiving medical care after being seriously injured in an attack inside the cockpit of a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Saturday.
Machchhar was injured on Wednesday after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him while flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
“Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care and is recovering well. We are in touch with his family and local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery,” the Indian Embassy said in a post on X.
The embassy also thanked the UAE Government for providing medical treatment to Machchhar and said it was joining his well-wishers in wishing him a speedy recovery.
The UAE authorities, who are investigating the incident, have described the attack as an alleged “terrorist act”. 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, according to the state-run WAM news agency.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot.
The co-pilot has been identified by the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami.
The flight was carrying 174 passengers when it transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of around 34,000 feet. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar received initial treatment in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical care.
On Friday, Machchhar spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and recounted the incident. He told Modi that despite being seriously injured, he remained determined to regain control of the cockpit and protect those on board.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also praised Machchhar, calling him a “true hero” for his role in preventing a potentially serious incident.
