Indian Embassy in UAE confirms pilot is recovering well after being shifted from Tabuk to Abu Dhabi for treatment
Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital on Saturday, praising the courage he showed in saving flydubai flight FZ1073 after a mid-air cockpit attack by his co-pilot.
Sharing photographs from the visit on X, Sheikh Hamdan described Machchhar as “the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life,” adding, “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” nation’s story. Calling the UAE a “nation of life,” he said he was proud Machchhar was part of that story.
Recovering after a harrowing ordeal
Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot, reported in some accounts as Omani, during the September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which transmitted hijack and emergency codes before diving more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet and making an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. He received initial treatment in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE issued a health update confirming Machchhar is recovering well under medical supervision, thanking the host nation for the treatment provided and saying it joined well-wishers in praying for his recovery.
PM Modi speaks to Machchhar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Captain Machchhar by phone while he was receiving treatment in hospital, according to reports, as his recovery continues to be closely followed in both India and the UAE.
Investigation continues
Machchhar’s actions in retaking control of the aircraft have been widely credited with averting a far more serious outcome, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier describing the incident as a potential “9/11 disaster” that was narrowly avoided. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack and the background of the co-pilot, while Flydubai has kept its Israel routes suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.
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