Tabuk | DD News

October 28, 2026 8:52 AM

UAE President honours Capt. Smit Machchhar, flydubai crew for courage during FZ1073 incident

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on the flydubai crew members, including Captain Smit Machchhar. The honour, one of the UAE's top civilian awards, recognises their courageous efforts to ensure passenger safety during an in-flight incident aboard FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The UAE President, in the presence of Vice President & Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, received the crew...

October 6, 2026 8:56 PM

Indian Captain Machchhar making ‘steady progress’: Indian embassy in UAE

Indian Captain Smit Machchhar is making “steady progress” and is “regaining his health”, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Tuesday. On flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, an Omani citizen, with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, seriously injuring him. The motive for the attack remains unclear. “Capt Smit continues to make steady progress and is regaining his health. The Embassy remains in close touch with h...

October 3, 2026 7:29 PM

Dubai Crown Prince visits Captain Smit, applauds his courage

Dubai Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence for the UAE, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today visited Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot who helped avert a major tragedy after being attacked by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Following the visit, Sheikh Hamdan took to X and praised Captain Smit for demonstrating “the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.” He said Captain Smit had earned the...

October 2, 2026 10:17 AM

Flydubai incident: Co-pilot accused of assaulting Captain Smit transferred to UAE, says Saudi Arabia

The co-pilot accused of assaulting Captain Smit Machchhar has been transferred to Abu Dhabi. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA), quoting an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior, reported that both pilots left the country for Abu Dhabi after receiving medical clearance. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi had yesterday informed that Captain Machchhar had been brought to the UAE and was recovering well. As reported by SPA, the aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Inte...

October 2, 2026 12:30 AM

Closely following health condition of Smit Machchhar: MEA

India on Thursday said it is keeping a close tab on the health of Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot hailed for saving a flydubai flight despite being stabbed by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to bring down the plane. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. He has been shifted to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care and recovery after he received initial medical treatment in ...

October 2, 2026 12:00 AM

‘Very reassured’ to meet Captain Machchhar: Indian envoy to UAE Deepak Mittal

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal on Thursday said he was “very reassured” to meet Captain Smit Machchhar, who is “in good health and recovering well” after sustaining serious injuries while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai flight. Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday. The plane carrying 174 people was forced to make an emergency landin...