Dubai Crown Prince Visits Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar After Flydubai Mid-Air Attack
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Indian flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital on Saturday and praised him for his conduct during a violent cockpit attack that UAE authorities say was carried out by the aircraft’s co-pilot.
Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, said in a post on X after meeting Machchhar that the pilot had “embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.” He said Machchhar had the “full appreciation and praise” of the UAE leadership.
“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 wrote.
The visit came after the September 30 incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv. According to UAE authorities, the co-pilot attacked Captain Machchhar on the flight deck with a crash axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft.
Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker. The aircraft was then diverted and landed safely in Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, the UAE Attorney General said the investigation had established that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. The inquiry into the motive, the circumstances surrounding the attack and any possible links is still under way.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Machchhar remains under excellent medical care and is recovering well. The mission said it is in touch with his family and local authorities, and thanked the UAE government for the treatment being provided.
Captain Machchhar, a native of Mumbai, has nearly 15 years of experience in commercial aviation. Before joining flydubai in 2022 as a direct-entry captain, he served with SpiceJet as a senior commander and line training captain.
His actions during the incident have already drawn praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
