'He has our full appreciation and praise': UAE Deputy PM visits injured flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar

Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy PM of the UAE, on Saturday visited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, at a hospital in Abu Dhabi. PIC/X

Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Saturday visited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured during the flydubai flight FZ1073 incident, at a hospital and praised his courage.

"During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life. From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise. We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life," Hamdan bin Mohammed, who is also the UAE's Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, wrote on X after the meeting.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said Captain Machchhar was responding well to treatment and continued to receive medical attention.

The mission said it was coordinating with his family and local authorities and thanked the UAE government for the care being extended to him.

"Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well. We are in touch with his family & local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery. Our thanks to the UAE gov. for their care. We join well-wishers in praying for his good health," the Indian mission posted on X.

Captain Machchhar was injured while preventing a mid-air attack on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Israel.

Indian pilot Smit Machchhar fought attacker as flydubai flight began to plummet

During the incident, another pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar, after which the aircraft began to plummet.

The Indian pilot fought the assailant and opened the cockpit door, following which passengers rushed to assist, entered the cockpit and overpowered the attacker.

Once the attacker was subdued, the seriously wounded Indian pilot was stabilised until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The attacker has since been identified as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, while the UAE has described the incident as a terror attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Captain Machchhar over a video call and praised his courage, presence of mind and composure during the mid-air incident, in which he helped save the lives of passengers and crew members.

(With IANS inputs)