Dubai, October 3, 2026: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, on Saturday visited Indian flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital and praised him for the courage he displayed while protecting passengers and crew during a mid-air cockpit attack.
In a post on X after the meeting, Sheikh Hamdan said Captain Machchhar had “embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.” He added that the pilot had the “full appreciation and praise” of the UAE leadership. “We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life,” he wrote.
The visit followed the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv on September 30. UAE authorities have said the co-pilot attacked Captain Machchhar on the flight deck with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to enter and overpower the attacker. The aircraft was diverted and landed safely at Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia.
The UAE Attorney General stated on Saturday that the investigation had established that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. Enquiries into the motive, circumstances and any possible links remain under way.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Captain Machchhar remains under excellent medical care and is recovering well. The mission is in contact with his family and local authorities and has thanked the UAE government for the treatment being provided.
Captain Machchhar, a Mumbai native with nearly a decade and a half in commercial aviation, earlier served with SpiceJet as a senior commander and line training captain before joining flydubai in 2022 as a direct-entry captain. His actions have already drawn public praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
