Stories
Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Praised for Bravery After Mid-Flight Attack; Recovers Well
- •Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, is recovering well after being seriously injured in an alleged co-pilot attack aboard a Flydubai flight.
- •Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Machchhar, expressing reassurance about his health and pride in his bravery for saving lives.
- •Mittal described Machchhar as a ‘brave son of India’ and thanked the UAE government for their support and medical care.
- •India’s Ambassador to Israel, JP Singh, also praised Captain Smit, stating, ‘We all are proud of Captain Smit. We are safe today because of him.’
- •The incident involved Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the alleged cockpit attack, and is currently under investigation by UAE authorities.
Key Questions Answered
Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, experienced a cockpit attack by the co-pilot. Despite being seriously injured, the captain, Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door so crew members and off-duty pilots could overpower the attacker and safely divert the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering well and in good health after being shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care and recovery. Indian diplomats, including UAE Ambassador Deepak Mittal and the Indian Embassy, have visited him and his family to assure them of full government support and assistance.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal and India’s Ambassador to Israel JP Singh both praised Captain Machchhar's bravery and courage. Ambassador Mittal commended him for saving lives and averting a tragedy, while Ambassador Singh noted that passengers were safe because of his actions.
