Stories
Dubai Crown Prince Honors Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar for Saving 180 Lives
- •Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum met Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who saved 180 lives on a flydubai flight after being stabbed by a co-pilot.
- •Captain Machchhar was attacked by Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv at 34,000 feet.
- •Despite serious injuries, Machchhar foiled the attack, opened the cockpit doors, and allowed passengers and crew to restrain the attacker, diverting the flight to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •Machchhar received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and US President Donald Trump for his heroic actions.
- •The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, had extremist views and was previously barred from flying by Oman before being hired by flydubai; UAE officials described the attack as a "serious terrorist act."
Key Questions Answered
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian flydubai pilot who saved the lives of 180 people on flight FZ1073 after being stabbed by his co-pilot. He met with Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum while recuperating in a hospital to receive official praise and full appreciation for his extraordinary courage.
Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv when the Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attacked Captain Machchhar with an emergency axe at 34,000 feet over Saudi Arabia. Despite serious injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit doors, allowing passengers and crew to restrain the attacker before the flight diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, had undergone Islamist radicalisation after spending time in Syria where he was exposed to extremist ideas. Although Oman had previously barred him from flying due to these concerns, he was subsequently hired by flydubai. UAE officials described the assault as a serious terrorist act.
