Stories
Dentist Recalls Saving Pilot After Cockpit Attack
- •Dr Shota Musaev stepped in to save Captain Smit Machchhar after a violent mid-air attack on flydubai Flight FZ1073.
- •Passengers restrained the attacker and allowed Musaev to enter the cockpit and treat the heavily bleeding pilot.
- •With no medical supplies at 35,000 feet, Musaev used T-shirts and ice packs to apply continuous pressure to deep wounds for 45 minutes.
- •The Boeing 737 MAX made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and Captain Machchhar is now recovering steadily.
Key Questions Answered
During a flight toward Tel Aviv, the co-pilot of flydubai Flight FZ1073 allegedly launched a violent cockpit attack on Captain Smit Machchhar in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft. Passengers intervened and restrained the attacker while the plane was diverted for an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Dr Shota Musaev, a dentist traveling as a passenger, entered the cockpit and used T-shirts and ice packs from the cabin crew to create makeshift dressings and apply continuous pressure to Captain Machchhar's deep wounds for 45 minutes. He also kept the pilot talking and raised his legs to maintain circulation when his pulse dropped.
Captain Machchhar was treated at a medical facility in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following the emergency landing and was later transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where he has been making steady progress in his recovery. He has been praised as a hero by world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
