Highest degrees of courage: Dubai crown prince meets hero flydubai pilot
UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum on Saturday visited Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar in Abu Dhabi, praising his courage in saving passengers during a cockpit attack by his co-pilot.
In a post on X after the visit, Hamdan said Machchhar had shown “the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life” and conveyed the UAE leadership’s appreciation.
“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,” Dubai's Crown Prince wrote.
Machchhar is recovering after his co-pilot attacked him with a crash axe aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday. He was shifted to Abu Dhabi after receiving initial treatment in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made an emergency landing.
UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash also praised the pilot’s courage and professionalism, describing the attack as a “dangerous terrorist act” that could have led to a disaster.ATTACK ABOARD DUBAI-TEL AVIV FLIGHT
According to the UAE Attorney General, the Omani co-pilot attacked Machchhar with the aircraft’s crash axe before trying to take control of flydubai flight FZ1073. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door and called for help, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker. A reserve crew aboard the aircraft then landed it at Tabuk airport.
The plane plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds while flying over Saudi Arabia, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
The UAE Attorney General described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. Saudi authorities said they conducted a preliminary investigation with UAE security teams before handing the co-pilot over to the Emirates.CO-PILOT’S PAST UNDER SCRUTINY
Al Arabiya identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Three people familiar with the investigation, including a Gulf diplomat and a Western diplomat, also confirmed his identity to the Associated Press.
AP reported that Oman had previously barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views. He was later hired by flydubai.
It remains unclear what information the airline had about his earlier removal from flying duties or how extensively he was vetted before being hired.PM MODI SPEAKS TO MACHCHHAR
PM Narendra Modi spoke to Machchhar by video call on Friday, praising his quick decisions during the attack and wishing him a speedy recovery.
“You have taken so many decisions in a fraction of a second. And you have saved the lives of so many people,” PM Modi told him.
The Prime Minister said the entire country was proud of Machchhar. “We Indians are not the ones who take lives. We are the ones who save lives,” he said.
Machchhar’s voice cracked as he described the conversation as a moment of pride. He called PM Modi his biggest idol and said he had never imagined getting an opportunity to speak to him.
PM Modi also referred to the pilot’s mother, Geeta Ben, saying she had raised him with the values and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Machchhar said he recited the Hanuman Chalisa whenever he faced difficulties and had done so during the attack.- Ends
