RIYADH — The Indian pilot injured in the mid-air incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 is in stable condition at a hospital in Tabuk, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said, as Indian officials continue to coordinate with Saudi authorities over his medical care.The pilot, identified as Capt. Smit Machchhar, was injured during an incident inside the cockpit of the Israel-bound flight on Wednesday, forcing the aircraft to divert to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.“The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have been following the health condition of Smit Machchhar, the brave Indian pilot of Flydubai flight that was diverted to Tabuk,” the embassy said.It said Machchhar was receiving necessary medical attention and was reported to be in stable condition, although a full update on his health was still awaited.“We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his wellbeing,” the embassy said.Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by another pilot aboard the flight, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his actions during the incident, saying he “saved the lives of 174 people” and helped avert a “catastrophic mid-air disaster.”Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the captain, saying he “showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others” despite being seriously injured.“His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” Modi said, wishing him a speedy recovery.Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar praised Machchhar’s “extraordinary courage and remarkable presence of mind, even in the face of grave danger.”US President Donald Trump also described the pilot as a hero, praising his actions during the incident.Machchhar, who grew up in Mumbai, began his aviation training at Mainland Air in New Zealand in 2008. He joined Indian carrier SpiceJet as a commercial pilot in 2011 before moving to Dubai and joining Flydubai in 2022.According to his LinkedIn profile, he has accumulated more than 9,750 hours of flying experience, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command.Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center has launched a safety investigation into the emergency landing, dispatching a team to examine the circumstances, collect evidence and assess aviation safety aspects in coordination with relevant authorities.UAE authorities have also opened an investigation into the incident, including its circumstances and motives and whether there was any connection to terrorist activity or prior planning.Flydubai previously said the aircraft was successfully secured by company crew members traveling aboard the flight before it was diverted and landed safely in Tabuk.
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