Indian pilot Smit Machchhar shows steady recovery after flydubai cockpit attack

The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering after the cockpit attack on a flydubai flight. The update comes as authorities continue probing the alleged assault by his co-pilot and its motive.Stock photo used for illustrationDubai,Oct 6, 2026 20:44 ISTIndian Captain Smit Machchhar is making "steady progress" and is "regaining his health", the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Tuesday, days after he was seriously injured in an attack inside the cockpit of a flydubai flight.The embassy said it remained in touch with Machchhar's family, doctors and local authorities as he recovered in the UAE. The attack took place on flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, when his co-pilot, an Omani citizen, allegedly struck him with a crash axe kept in the cockpit for emergencies. The motive remains unclear."Capt Smit continues to make steady progress and is regaining his health. The Embassy remains in close touch with his family, doctors & local authorities, extending all possible assistance," the embassy said in a post on X. "We thank everyone for their prayers & wish him a speedy recovery," it added.The flight was carrying 174 passengers when it transmitted emergency signals and made a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet. Machchhar, who was lying injured on the cockpit floor, realised the plane was descending and decided to make "one last push" to open the cockpit door. He was covered in blood when he managed to click open the release. Two reserve pilots then landed the aircraft safely at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk city in Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was taken into custody. Machchhar was taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. It is understood that he was shifted to the UAE a day after he was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk in northwest Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.On October 1, India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, had said Machchhar was "in good health and recovering well" after visiting him and his family at the hospital. The latest update from the embassy said the captain was continuing to recover, while authorities remained in contact with his family and doctors. With PTI Inputs- Ends