Captain Smit Machhar recovering after co-pilot's axe attack on FlyDubai flight; Indians in UAE salute him

Captain Smit Machhar, who survived a sudden attack by the co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight, is recovering fast. He is being treated at a military hospital in Dubai. He has got out of bed and walked a few steps, a sign that his condition is improving. The Indian community in the UAE and several world leaders have saluted his courage.

The incident took place at the end of last month. The FlyDubai aircraft (FZ1073) was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv in Israel. While the flight was going smoothly, the Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, went into the cockpit on the pretext of offering prayers and attacked Captain Machhar with an axe. The first blow was so forceful that it seriously injured Machhar's skull and blurred his vision. The attacker had planned to take control of the aircraft and take it down steeply and crash it.

Despite being gravely injured and bleeding heavily, Machhar did not give up. As he sensed the aircraft descending rapidly, he realised that it was not only his own life at stake but the lives of all 180 people on board. He used all his strength to open the cockpit's automatically locking door. As soon as it opened, passengers and other crew members rushed into the cockpit and overpowered co-pilot Hammam. The aircraft then made a safe emergency landing, and all 180 people on board survived.

At a special event organised by the Indian People's Forum (IPF) in Dubai, the Indian community in the UAE honoured Captain Machhar's bravery. IPF president Jitendra Vaidya said Machhar's decision was based not only on his professional training but was also an example of his moral values and patriotism. Those present at the event stood and paid tribute to Machhar. Sudha, an Indian lawyer living in Dubai, said: "Captain Smit has raised the head of the entire Indian community with pride."

Captain Smit Machhar is a highly experienced and skilled pilot in Indian civil aviation. He began his career with SpiceJet and worked there as a line training captain from 2011 to 2022. In June 2022 he joined Dubai-based airline FlyDubai directly as a captain. With more than 10 years of flying experience, Machhar has flown for over 9,500 hours. His concentration and discipline proved useful in taking a bold decision in the crisis.

Machhar's courage is being widely praised in India, Israel and the UAE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to him directly over the phone, enquired about his health and praised his courage. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an official statement: "This Indian pilot has prevented a major tragedy by saving the lives of 174 Israelis and citizens of other countries. The entire nation of Israel thanks him from the heart." International investigating agencies are now questioning the co-pilot closely about his motive for the attack.