Dubai Crown Prince Meets Injured Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met injured Indian flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. He praised Machchhar for showing courage and responsibility during the cockpit incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073.

Machchhar was injured on September 30 after his co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit while the flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to restrain the co-pilot.

Sheikh Hamdan said Machchhar had shown the “highest degrees of courage, responsibility and care for human life” and expressed appreciation from the UAE leadership. Machchhar received initial treatment in Tabuk before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. The Indian Embassy in the UAE said he was recovering well and receiving excellent medical care.