NEW DELHI: UAE deputy prime minister Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Saturday met flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and praised his courage, responsibility and care for human life.In a social media post on X, Hamdan bin Mohammed said that the UAE is proud that Machchhar is part of the flydubai team and part of the story of the UAE.“During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life. From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister said.“We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life,” he added.During the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot, who “attempted to carry out a terrorist act” and sought to seize control of the aircraft’s piloting instruments while the plane was airborne.According to the UAE’s state news agency WAM, citing Attorney General Counsellor Hamad Saif al-Shamsi, the Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, attacked Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe while attempting to take control of the aircraft.The assault triggered a violent struggle inside the cockpit, during which the aircraft reportedly lost about 16,000 feet in two minutes, according to reports on the incident.Machchhar, despite sustaining serious injuries, fought back and managed to unlock the cockpit door.Crew members, passengers and two off-duty pilots then entered the cockpit and helped overpower the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to be stabilised.The flight subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 180 people on board safely disembarked.A crash axe is a standard emergency tool kept in aircraft cockpits and is designed to help pilots cut through aircraft materials during emergencies.Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Machchhar was recovering well in an Abu Dhabi hospital, days after being airlifted from Tabuk.The MEA said that Machchhar remained under “excellent medical care” and that it was in touch with his family and local authorities.“Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well. We are in touch with his family & local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery. Our thanks to UAE gov. for their care. We join well-wishers in praying for his good health,” the Indian Embassy in UAE said in a post on X.
