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Dentist Saves Pilot After Brutal Cockpit Axe Attack on FlyDubai Flight
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News18•07-10-2026, 10:34
Dentist Saves Pilot After Brutal Cockpit Axe Attack on FlyDubai Flight
- •On September 30, FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a harrowing mid-air attack when the co-pilot assaulted Captain Smit Machhar with a crash axe.
- •Captain Smit suffered a fractured skull and severe injuries to his head and hands, causing heavy bleeding and blurred vision.
- •Israeli dentist Dr. Shota Musaev rushed to the cockpit and used a T-shirt and ice to control the severe bleeding without a proper medical kit.
- •Dr. Musaev kept the captain conscious by talking to him about his family and raised his legs when his pulse began to fade.
- •With assistance from two off-duty pilots, the aircraft successfully made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, saving all 174 passengers.
Key Questions Answered
On September 30 aboard flight FZ1073, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machhar was attacked in the cockpit by his co-pilot, Omani national Hammam Al-Hamami, using a crash axe in an attempt to take control of the aircraft.
Dr. Shota Musaev rushed to the cockpit and used a T-shirt as an improvised bandage to apply pressure and stop the severe bleeding. When the captain's pulse weakened, Musaev raised his legs to restore circulation and continuously talked to him to keep him conscious.
After two off-duty pilots arrived in the cockpit to help stabilize the aircraft, the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Captain Smit received immediate medical assistance before being transferred to the UAE.
