Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Captain Smit Machchhar Walks Ten Steps as Recovery Continues
Captain Smit Machchhar is a pilot who was badly hurt during a flight.
Sources say his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit.
The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where doctors operated on him.
He was later taken to a hospital in the UAE.
His family told NDTV that he walked 10 steps as he recovered.
The Indian embassy said he was making steady progress.
Reports differed about whether he was then in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Passengers and two pilots who were travelling on the plane helped take control of the cockpit.
A family member told NDTV that Captain Smit Machchhar walked 10 steps in hospital.
The Indian pilot is recovering after an alleged cockpit attack by his flydubai co-pilot.
Sources said Machchhar suffered a skull fracture and underwent emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia.
The flight made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport after passengers and two pilot passengers helped secure the cockpit.
The Indian embassy said Machchhar was making steady progress; reports differed on whether he was in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, flydubai's pilot, and his co-pilot.
- What
- Machchhar is recovering after an alleged cockpit attack that left him with a reported skull fracture.
- When
- The flight was on September 30; a family member said Machchhar walked 10 steps on Wednesday, October 7.
- Where
- The flight was bound for Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia; Machchhar was treated in the UAE.
- Why
- Sources said the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and sought to crash the aircraft.
- Pilot
- Captain Smit Machchhar
- Flight
- FZ1073, a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Passengers and crew
- 174
- Reported injury
- Skull fracture, according to sources
- Recovery milestone
- Walked 10 steps, according to a family member
- Treatment
- Emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia, followed by transfer to the UAE
- Hospital location reports
- Family report said he had moved to a Dubai hospital; the MEA spokesperson said he was in Abu Dhabi.
- Embassy update
- The Indian embassy in the UAE said he was making steady progress.
