The Indian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said Thursday that Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering well after being seriously injured in an alleged cockpit attack that forced a flight from Dubai, UAE, to Tel Aviv, Israel, to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited Machchhar and his family at the hospital, according to the Indian Embassy in the UAE.
Mittal “visited Captain Smit Machchhar and his family at the hospital,” the embassy wrote on social media. “Captain Machchhar is in good health and recovering well.
“The Embassy remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.”
Mittal said he was “very reassured” after meeting Machchhar and thanked the UAE government for its support and the medical care being provided.
Machchhar was attacked Wednesday aboard Flydubai Flight 1073, which was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed or struck Machchhar with what may have been a knife or an axe. The weapon has not yet been verified.
Despite suffering severe injuries and significant blood loss, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a passenger and another crew member to enter and restrain the alleged attacker. The aircraft had rapidly lost altitude, dropping from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly a minute, before eventually diverting to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Other Flydubai crew members aboard the aircraft helped stabilize the plane and land it safely. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot after the landing.
Machchhar has since been praised by Indian and Israeli officials for his actions during the incident.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a hero, saying his courage, while seriously injured, helped prevent a major tragedy.
Saudi Arabia, Israel, and UAE work together on investigation into Flydubai suspect: What to know
India’s president also praised Machchhar’s “heroic courage” and “incredible presence of mind,” saying his response helped save lives.
Investigators in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel are working to determine what happened aboard the aircraft, including the suspect’s motive and how the weapon allegedly used in the attack was obtained. The UAE has opened an investigation into whether the incident involved terrorism or prior planning.