Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Indian flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital on Saturday, praising him for his courage and actions during a mid-air emergency aboard Flight FZ1073.
Photographs released following the meeting showed Sheikh Hamdan beside Machchhar’s hospital bed, holding his hand and embracing the injured pilot. The Crown Prince personally expressed his appreciation for the pilot’s conduct during the incident.
Sheikh Hamdan said Machchhar had demonstrated the “highest degrees of courage, responsibility and care for human life” during the emergency.
“From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote. He added that the UAE was proud to have Machchhar as “part of our team” and “part of the story of our nation,” saying his actions reflected values including compassion, peace and the protection of human life.
The recognition follows a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. According to UAE authorities, Machchhar was injured after his co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit while the aircraft was rapidly losing altitude.
Despite being injured, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing other people onboard to intervene and restrain the attacker. A reserve crew subsequently took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
From his hospital bed, Machchhar later spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described the moment he realised that the safety of the passengers depended on his actions.
He told Modi that while he was fighting for his own life, he understood that he could not allow the other people aboard the aircraft to die. Machchhar said he gathered his remaining strength for one final effort and opened the cockpit door despite continuing to be attacked.
The incident has drawn attention in both India and the UAE, with the injured pilot receiving public recognition for his actions during the emergency. Sheikh Hamdan’s hospital visit added a personal gesture of support from the UAE leadership as Machchhar continues his recovery.
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