{"id":31884,"date":"2026-10-03T10:41:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T10:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=31884"},"modified":"2026-10-03T10:41:05","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T10:41:05","slug":"recovering-well-mea-provides-update-on-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-attacked-by-co-pilot-india-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=31884","title":{"rendered":"‘Recovering well’: MEA provides update on flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar attacked by co-pilot | India News"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"'Recovering<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Machchhar remains under medical care following the cockpit assault<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Saturday said flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar was recovering well after he was attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.The MEA said Machchhar remained under \u201cexcellent medical care\u201d and that it was in touch with his family and local authorities.\u201cIndian 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,\u201d Indian embassy in UAE said in a post on X.The attack took place on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was bound for Tel Aviv. 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.<\/p>\n

Co-pilot allegedly tried to seize control<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

The UAE attorney general said al-Hammami \u201cattempted to carry out a terrorist act\u201d and sought to seize command of the aircraft’s piloting instruments while the plane was airborne.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.<\/p>\n

UAE investigation underway<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n

The UAE authorities are investigating the incident to establish the circumstances, motive and possible connections linked to the attack.\u201cThe conclusive findings will be made public immediately once all mandatory legal and administrative steps have successfully concluded,\u201d al-Shamsi said, according to WAM.Investigators are also examining physical and digital evidence as part of the probe.Reports raise questions over co-pilot’s backgroundMedia reports have also raised questions about al-Hammami’s background and previous aviation career.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n