Flydubai Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar Suffered Fractured Skull, Underwent Emergency Surgery in Saudi

Flydubai hero pilot Smit Machchhar suffered a depressed skull fracture and underwent emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia

October 6, 2026

Despite a fractured skull, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, helping save flight FZ1073

Blurred Vision, Broken Skull — How Machchhar Still Managed to Save FZ1073

New details have emerged about the severity of injuries suffered by Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot credited with helping avert a potential disaster aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, with sources telling NDTV that he sustained a depressed skull fracture after being struck by his co-pilot and underwent emergency cranial reconstruction surgery in Saudi Arabia.

What happened in the cockpit

According to sources, the 38-year-old captain suffered a “depressed fracture — fragment of skull” after being struck from behind, with some reports citing a crash axe as the object used, allegedly by his co-pilot, identified in several reports as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. A depressed skull fracture occurs when a broken section of bone is pushed inward, potentially pressing on or injuring the brain beneath it.

Despite the severity of his injuries and significantly blurred vision, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to rush in, overpower the attacking co-pilot, and help bring the aircraft back under control. The flight, carrying over 170 passengers and crew from Dubai to Tel Aviv, subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Treatment and recovery

Machchhar received emergency medical treatment in Tabuk, where doctors reconstructed the damaged portion of his skull, before he was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for more advanced care. He is now recovering in the UAE, reportedly with family by his side, and has been described as responding well to treatment. Recovery time for a depressed skull fracture of this kind can vary significantly depending on severity, often taking several weeks to months for the bone to heal fully.

Widely hailed as a hero

Machchhar’s actions have drawn praise from senior officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the co-pilot appeared to have attempted to crash the aircraft and credited those on board with averting what he called a potential “9/11-style” disaster. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Machchhar in hospital last week, praising what he called the pilot’s courage, responsibility and care for human life.

Flydubai has kept its flights to and from Israel suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into the attack, and details of the co-pilot’s background and motive remain under active investigation.

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