Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum has visited wounded flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar in the hospital, honoring his extraordinary bravery during a mid-air cockpit attack aboard flight FZ1073
According to reports monitored by Sooth News, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum visited Captain Machchhar in the hospital on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Commending the captain’s mid-air heroics, Sheikh Hamdan stated that the pilot had demonstrated the “highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.”
He emphasized that the captain has the full appreciation and praise of the UAE leadership, declaring the nation proud to feature him “part of our team and national story.”
The high-stakes intervention follows a terrifying September 30 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, where Captain Machchhar was seriously injured after being blindsided inside the cockpit. Despite sustaining heavy wounds, Machchhar executed a critical final push to release the cockpit door lock, enabling passengers and cabin crew to burst in and neutralize the threat. The Boeing 737 was immediately stabilized and safely diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to the UAE Attorney-General, preliminary investigations reveal that the co-pilot was attempting to execute a calculated terrorist act. The assailant allegedly ambushed the captain with the cockpit’s emergency crash axe in a violent bid to seize control of the aircraft’s flight systems. Federal investigations into the plot remain actively ongoing.
In tandem with the leadership’s praise, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority commended Captain Machchhar, his crew, and the passengers for their decisive intervention, noting that their collective actions “helped prevent more serious consequences.”
Following the harrowing ordeal, Captain Machchhar has been successfully repatriated to the UAE, where he is currently undergoing advanced medical treatment. Offering a reassuring update on his condition, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the heroic captain is recovering well.
