Jiu-jitsu once you recover: Capt Smit's head stitches catch UAE president's eye

Captain Smit Machchhar, who thwarted a potential hijack attempt, was honoured by the UAE. However, what caught attention was the long line of stitches at the back of Machchhar's head.Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanNew Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 12:05 ISTIt was a special moment for Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, hailed as a hero for thwarting a hijack attempt on an Israel-bound flydubai flight, as he was honoured by the UAE on Wednesday. However, what caught attention during the ceremony was the long line of stitches at the back of Machchhar's head, offering a first glimpse of the severity of his injuries after he was brutally attacked with a crash axe by his Omani co-pilot.The Indian captain, whose left arm was wrapped in a sling, and his fellow flydubai crew members were conferred the 'First Class Order of Zayed II' by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in recognition of their efforts to protect the 174 passengers during the September 30 incident aboard flight FZ1073.MASSIVE STITCHES ON SMIT MACHCHHAR'S HEADAs the flight was about to enter Israeli airspace, Machchhar, 38, was struck from behind by the co-pilot, identified as Hamam al-Hammami, with a crash axe in the cockpit. He apparently wanted to take control of the flight and carry out a 9/11-style attack by crashing the plane into a skyscraper in Tel Aviv.However, Machchhar fought through the pain and rapid blood loss to unlock the cockpit door, allowing the crew and passengers to rush inside and overpower the co-pilot. The aircraft, which plunged more than 17,000 feet in two minutes amid the chaos, was eventually stabilised by two off-duty pilots who were on the same flight. The attack left Machchhar with a fractured skull and injuries to his hand. The Gujarat-born pilot suffered a depressed skull fracture, a serious injury in which a broken piece of skull bone is pushed inward towards the brain.Machchhar underwent emergency treatment in Saudi Arabia, where doctors reconstructed his skull. He was then flown to the UAE for advanced treatment. The scars on the back of Machchhar's head were clearly visible during his meeting with the UAE president. It offered the world the first look at the extent of Captain Machchhar's injuries.He also suffered stab wounds to his hands and legs, and injuries across his chest and upper abdomen.UAE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL REQUEST TO MACHCHHARA video of their interaction also went viral, in which the UAE president is seen inspecting Machchhar's injuries and the stitches. The duo are then seen sharing a light-hearted moment.In the video, the UAE President asks when Captain Smit Machchhar will recover, pointing at the sling on his arm. "Maybe in two months," Machchhar replies.To this, the UAE President responded, "I have an idea. When you heal, I want to have a session with you to train you how to fight... a jiu-jitsu session."Machchhar then breaks into a chuckle. "It's my biggest honour," he tells Zayed Al Nahyan. The duo then have a hearty laugh before sharing a warm embrace.The mention of jiu-jitsu by the UAE President was not out of the blue. Jiu-jitsu, a form of martial art, is the country's national sport. The UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, is, in fact, a major global hub for jiu-jitsu.A close-up image of Machchhar's head injury was shared by far-right UK leader Tommy Robinson on social media. "Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear battle scars. Hero Indian Captain Smit Machchhar. The world salutes you," Robinson tweeted.GROWING LIST OF HONOURS FOR FLYDUBAI HERO PILOTThe honour by the UAE adds to a growing list of accolades for the Indian pilot.The Gujarat government has conferred the Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award, while the Israeli government has proposed a Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Captain Machchhar to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day celebrations.- Ends