# Dubai prince praises Indian pilot after flydubai attack

> UAE prince commends Indian pilot for courage during cockpit attack.
- Title: Dubai prince praises Indian pilot after flydubai attack
- Summary: UAE prince commends Indian pilot for courage during cockpit attack. UAE deputy prime minister praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for courage after…
- Keywords: breaking, dubai, flydubai, captain smit machchhar, uae, saudi arabia, co-pilot, emergency landing, terrorist attack, indian pilot, uae deputy prime minister, smit machchhar
- Source: Financialexpress — https://financialexpress.com/world-news/highest-degrees-of-courage-dubai-prince-praises-indian-pilot-after-flydubai-attack/4353064
- Author: Dimple Singh
- Published: 2026-10-03T17:13:22+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, dubai, flydubai, captain smit machchhar, uae, saudi arabia, co-pilot, emergency landing, terrorist attack, indian pilot, uae deputy prime minister, smit machchhar
## UAE deputy prime minister visits pilot
UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited injured Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital.

> During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.
## Pilot praised for courage
Sheikh Hamdan described the Indian pilot as someone who showed courage, responsibility and care for human life.

> 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
## Indian embassy updates pilot's condition
Indian Embassy in UAE said pilot was recovering well under medical supervision.

> UPDATE: Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care & is recovering well
## PM Modi speaks to pilot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Captain Smit Machchhar after the incident.

> We felt relieved seeing him on television yesterday and knowing that he is okay
## Family relieved after PM Modi interaction
Machchhar's family felt relieved after seeing him interact with PM Modi.

> Most of all, we felt relieved seeing him on television yesterday and knowing that he is okay
## Pilot's injuries and actions
Machchhar suffered injuries after co-pilot attacked him inside cockpit.

> He managed to open the cockpit door and helped passengers enter the cockpit
## Emergency landing details
Flydubai flight FZ1073 made emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after incident.

> The aircraft dropped more than 16,000 feet during the most dramatic part of the descent
## Co-pilot attacked with crash axe
UAE prosecutor general said co-pilot attacked pilot with crash axe inside cockpit.

> The co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft
## Passengers helped stop attack
At least four passengers rushed to cockpit and helped restrain co-pilot.

> Two other passengers reportedly attacked and restrained him using earphone cables
## Two off-duty pilots landed plane
Two off-duty flydubai pilots took control after passengers subdued co-pilot.

> The plane eventually landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia
## Suspect identified as Omani national
Suspected attacker identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national.

> The co-pilot was al-Hammami, an Omani national
## UAE calls incident terrorist attack
UAE prosecutor general described incident as attempted terrorist attack.

> Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack
## Investigation underway
UAE leading investigation into suspect's motive remains open.

> The investigation into the suspect’s motive remains open
## Key takeaway

UAE deputy prime minister praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for courage after co-pilot attacked him in cockpit during flydubai flight emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.