- Captain Smit Machchhar recovering well in UAE hospital.
- Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal confirmed his stable health.
- Pilot foiled co-pilot's attempt to crash Flydubai flight.
Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is "in good health and recovering well" after sustaining serious injuries while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash the flight, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal said on Thursday.
"In Good Health And Recovering Well"
Ambassador Mittal visited Captain Machchhar and his family at the hospital, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said in an X post, reiterating that "Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well."
Indian Embassy in the UAE says, "Ambassador of India to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital. Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well. The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his… pic.twitter.com/r01oundGxZ
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2026
"The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being," the Indian mission in the UAE added.
Machchhar was shifted to the UAE a day after he was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk, northwest Saudi Arabia, to receive medical treatment.
On Wednesday night, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said that the pilot was "admitted to a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention," adding that he was "reported to be in stable condition."
Flydubai Mid-Air Attack
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Mid-flight, the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit, causing the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Covered in blood on the floor, Machchhar summoned "the last moments of his energy" to click open the cockpit door release, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Doron Spielman.
Unlocking the door allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot. A second pair of off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling on board then stepped in to take control, safely landing the aircraft in Tabuk. Passengers on the flight reached Israel safely later on Wednesday.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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