New Delhi, Oct. 1 -- Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured while fighting off his co-pilot during an alleged attempt to bring down a flydubai flight, was shifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment on Thursday, as India said it was closely monitoring his recovery. Machchhar's actions aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, which was carrying 174 people, have made him a national hero, with political leaders, former sportspersons and people across the country praising his courage. At the same time, the UAE has opened an investigation into the incident to establish what happened inside the cockpit and whether the attack involved prior planning or any terrorist motive.
The Boeing 737 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, including 27 children, when it sent out emergency signals and made a sharp descent of more than 17,000 feet. It then diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdel Aziz Airport in Tabuk, in northwest Saudi Arabia, and landed safely. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured in the cockpit. Videos of the confrontation, including images of the bloodied pilot, spread widely online.
Ministry of External Affairs said Machchhar received initial treatment at a hospital in Tabuk and has since been moved to Abu Dhabi for continued care. Indian ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal met him in hospital and earlier met his family, assuring them of all possible support. "Very reassured to meet Capt Smit," Mittal said in a post on X, adding that the pilot is in good health and recovering well. The ministry said its embassy in Abu Dhabi and consulate in Dubai are in close touch with local authorities, and it thanked the UAE government for the medical care provided.
In the UAE, Attorney-General Hamad Al Shamsi ordered a team of specialised Public Prosecution members to examine the circumstances and causes of the incident. The Foreign Ministry said UAE courts have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the country and flies its flag, so UAE law applies to crimes committed on board even outside its territory. The team is working with the General Civil Aviation Authority. Authorities want to establish whether the incident "was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose or involved prior planning or direction", state news agency WAM reported. The ministry thanked Saudi authorities for their handling of the landing and asked the public to rely on official sources and avoid circulating speculation until the inquiry ends.
The co-pilot, believed to be an Omani national, was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News it was too early to say who was behind the incident and that Israel may take part in the investigation.
In India, tributes came from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who praised his "selfless act" and "presence of mind". US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu also paid tribute. Special prayers were held at the Somnath temple in Gujarat, where the trust performed a Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa for his health, and in Varanasi, where monks prayed with his photograph. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh also praised him. Singh wrote that "some moments show you what a person is truly made of." On social media, users compared him to Neerja Bhanot, the flight attendant who died saving passengers from a hijacked plane in 1986.
Little was known about Machchhar before the incident. His LinkedIn profile says he has been a captain on flydubai's Boeing 737 fleet since June 2022, after 11 years at SpiceJet, and has logged 9,750 hours on the 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 and 9. It also lists work as a line training captain, assessing and mentoring other pilots. He studied management online at Welingkar Institute in Mumbai in 2007-08, and its director, Dr Pankaj Natu, called him a "true hero in the skies." SpiceJet said his "heroism saved countless lives".
In Ghatkopar, Mumbai, neighbours and friends described him as calm and composed since childhood and as a caring father of two. Childhood friend Prateek Gandhi said he was the most "sorted out" kid in their housing society. Crowds carrying the tricolour gathered outside his parents' home, and his parents left to be with him. Residents said they were praying for his recovery and for his family.
Flydubai said an altercation occurred on the flight deck and that crew members travelling on board intervened to secure the aircraft. Media reports have referred to a small group of crew who assisted Machchhar, but the details available so far do not name them or confirm how many there were.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.