Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Saturday praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his “courage” in averting a possible tragedy after being attacked by his co-pilot during a flight to Israel.
Captain Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while it was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Crown Prince Hamdan visited Machchhar at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment and posted photographs from the meeting on X.
Hamdan, who is also the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said the flydubai pilot had “embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.”
“From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” he said.
“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,” the crown prince added.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE earlier said Machchhar was recovering well and remained under medical care.
“Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well. We are in touch with his family & local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery,” the embassy said in a post on X on Saturday.
The embassy also thanked the UAE government for providing medical care to Machchhar and said it joined well-wishers in praying for his recovery.
The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said the co-pilot attempted to carry out a “terrorist act” on Wednesday.
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot used a crash axe to attack Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, according to earlier reports.
The co-pilot who attacked Machchhar has been identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting people familiar with the matter.
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of 34,000 feet before making an emergency landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk.
After receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Machchhar was shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care.
IAF chief hails Smit Machchha's bravery
Captain Smit Machchhar displayed exceptional bravery in saving a flydubai flight this week, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday.
Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday in an alleged attempt to bring down the plane.
However, despite being stabbed, Machchhar saved the flight.
"Every Indian is proud of him. What he did was exceptionally brave. He showed great physical and mental resolve," Air Chief Marshal Singh said.
He made the remarks while responding to a question at a press conference.
The plane carrying 174 people was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk in northwest Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar has been hailed as a "true hero" by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said the injured pilot, passengers and other crew members had "managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster".
Machchhar is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates.
(With inputs from PTI)
