Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who helped prevent a mid-air disaster aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, suffered a depressed skull fracture during the cockpit attack and underwent emergency surgery before being airlifted to the United Arab Emirates, where he is now recovering.
The 38-year-old captain was allegedly attacked by his Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, with an emergency crash axe inside the cockpit of the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30. According to doctors cited in reports, the blow left a "depressed fracture fragment of skull" — a break in which a piece of the skull is pressed inward toward the brain. Emergency surgery was performed in Saudi Arabia, where the flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, before Machchhar was flown to the UAE for further treatment.
Opened the cockpit door despite his injuries
Despite profuse bleeding from wounds to his head, neck and hands, impaired vision and injuries to his limbs, chest and upper abdomen, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door so that passengers and crew could enter and pin down the attacker. On one attempt he was unable to see clearly and the co-pilot shut the door again; his second attempt succeeded, allowing the crew and passengers to overpower al-Hammami. Two off-duty pilots travelling on the flight then helped take control of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 people.
Israeli dentist Shota Musaev, the only doctor on board, treated the badly wounded captain for 45 minutes using makeshift pressure dressings and ice packs after first helping restrain the attacker. Fellow passenger Yaniv Hayun dragged the suspect from the cockpit and levelled the aircraft before the third pilot took over.
Praised by Modi and Netanyahu, recovering in UAE
Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Tuesday, the Indian embassy in the UAE said he "continues to make steady progress and is regaining his health", adding that it remains in close touch with his family, doctors and local authorities. His family has been granted access to visit him.
Doctors say recovery from a depressed skull fracture takes time and can involve fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentrating. The investigation into the attack, led by the UAE with international participation, continues.
Sources:
- The Times of India: Cockpit attack left Captain Smit Machchhar with 'depressed skull fracture'
- NDTV: The Relentless 45-Minute Fight By Dentist To Save flydubai's Hero Pilot
- The Economic Times: flydubai pilot suffered depressed skull fracture while fighting off co-pilot
The 38-year-old captain was allegedly attacked by his Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, with an emergency crash axe inside the cockpit of the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on September 30. According to doctors cited in reports, the blow left a "depressed fracture fragment of skull" — a break in which a piece of the skull is pressed inward toward the brain. Emergency surgery was performed in Saudi Arabia, where the flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, before Machchhar was flown to the UAE for further treatment.
Opened the cockpit door despite his injuries
Despite profuse bleeding from wounds to his head, neck and hands, impaired vision and injuries to his limbs, chest and upper abdomen, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door so that passengers and crew could enter and pin down the attacker. On one attempt he was unable to see clearly and the co-pilot shut the door again; his second attempt succeeded, allowing the crew and passengers to overpower al-Hammami. Two off-duty pilots travelling on the flight then helped take control of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 people.
Israeli dentist Shota Musaev, the only doctor on board, treated the badly wounded captain for 45 minutes using makeshift pressure dressings and ice packs after first helping restrain the attacker. Fellow passenger Yaniv Hayun dragged the suspect from the cockpit and levelled the aircraft before the third pilot took over.
Praised by Modi and Netanyahu, recovering in UAE
Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Tuesday, the Indian embassy in the UAE said he "continues to make steady progress and is regaining his health", adding that it remains in close touch with his family, doctors and local authorities. His family has been granted access to visit him.
Doctors say recovery from a depressed skull fracture takes time and can involve fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentrating. The investigation into the attack, led by the UAE with international participation, continues.
Sources:
- The Times of India: Cockpit attack left Captain Smit Machchhar with 'depressed skull fracture'
- NDTV: The Relentless 45-Minute Fight By Dentist To Save flydubai's Hero Pilot
- The Economic Times: flydubai pilot suffered depressed skull fracture while fighting off co-pilot
