Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who helped prevent an apparent attempt to crash a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, suffered a serious depressed skull fracture during the cockpit attack, according to sources cited by NDTV.
The 38-year-old pilot was attacked by his Omani co-pilot inside the cockpit while flydubai flight FZ1073 was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew. Despite suffering severe injuries and rapid blood loss, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing other crew members and passengers to enter and overpower the attacker.
The latest details offer a clearer picture of the extent of the injuries Machchhar sustained while trying to protect everyone aboard the aircraft.
Doctors Reconstructed His Skull in Saudi Arabia
Sources told NDTV that Machchhar suffered a “depressed fracture – fragment of skull” during the attack.
In a depressed skull fracture, a section of the skull breaks and is pushed inward. Such injuries can put pressure on or damage the brain and may require urgent medical intervention.
After the aircraft made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, Machchhar was taken to hospital. Doctors there performed emergency treatment and reconstructed his skull before he was later flown to the UAE for further medical care.
Machchhar also suffered wounds to his limbs, chest and upper abdominal area. Earlier reports said he was showing signs of positive recovery and responding to treatment. He was subsequently airlifted to Abu Dhabi for advanced medical care.
He Was Injured, But Still Opened the Cockpit Door
The sequence of events inside the aircraft has made Machchhar’s actions particularly remarkable.
The flydubai Boeing 737 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the aircraft suddenly began losing altitude. The flight reportedly descended rapidly before an emergency situation was declared.
According to reports, the Omani co-pilot, identified as Hamam Al-Hammami, attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit with a crash axe and subsequently attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Machchhar was severely injured but realised the aircraft was in danger. He managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and intervene.
The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.
‘I Was Not Going to Let Others Die’
In a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the incident, Machchhar described how he was lying injured when he realised the aircraft was continuing to descend.
“I was lying on the floor injured, but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside.”
He also told the Prime Minister:
“I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.”
The pilot has credited the passengers and crew members who entered the cockpit and helped overpower the attacker, stressing that others played an equal role in bringing the situation under control.
