Dubai Crown Prince praises Indian pilot after cockpit attack on Israel flight

Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Saturday praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his “courage” after he was attacked by his co-pilot during a flydubai flight to Israel and helped avert what authorities described as a possible tragedy.

Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Indian Embassy in the UAE said he was recovering well and remained under medical care.

Hamdan, who is also the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, visited Machchhar in hospital and posted photographs from the meeting on X. He 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,” Hamdan 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,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, the Indian Embassy said in a post on X, “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 mission also thanked the UAE government for providing medical care and said it joined well-wishers in praying for his recovery.

The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said the co-pilot attempted to carry out a “terrorist act” on Wednesday. According to state-run WAM news agency, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot used a crash axe to attack Machchhar and tried to take control of the aircraft.

According to earlier reports, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, identified the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami.

The flight was carrying 174 passengers. It sent out emergency signals and rapidly descended more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet before making an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. After receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was moved to Abu Dhabi for continued care, with UAE and Indian authorities saying he is recovering.

With PTI Inputs

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