flydubai hero pilot's skull fractured in cockpit attack, emergency surgery follows

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped prevent an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, suffered a serious skull injury when his Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit, sources told NDTV.

The 38-year-old captain suffered a “depressed fracture-fragment of skull” after being struck with a crash axe, while the aircraft was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew.

Despite his injuries and blood loss, Machchhar managed to reach the cockpit door and unlock it. This allowed crew members and passengers to enter, overpower the co-pilot and help stabilise the aircraft.

The flight eventually made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Pilot underwent emergency surgery

Sources said Machchhar underwent emergency treatment in Saudi Arabia, where doctors reconstructed his skull before he was flown to the UAE.

A depressed skull fracture occurs when a section of the skull is pushed inward towards the brain. Sources said the injury can be serious because the broken bone may press against or injure the brain and can require surgery.

Machchhar also suffered injuries to his limbs, chest and upper abdominal area. He was airlifted from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi last week for further treatment and admitted to the Military Hospital.

Sources said the pilot is showing “positive recovery” and is “responding well” to treatment. His family has also been allowed to meet him, with regular updates on his condition being shared with them.

'I knew I was not going to let others die'

During a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, Machchhar recalled how he pushed himself to regain control of the situation despite being injured.

"I was lying on the floor injured, but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside," he told PM Modi.

"Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation]. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die," he added.

Flight plunged nearly 18,000 feet

flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, plunged nearly 18,000 feet about two and a half hours into its journey. It first sent an emergency signal before switching to squawk code 7500, which indicates hijacking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said the Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamad Al-Hammami, had stabbed Machchhar before “apparently trying to crash” the aircraft.