Injured Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Airlifted to UAE for Further Treatment

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who sustained serious injuries in an attack inside the cockpit of a Flydubai flight, has been airlifted to the United Arab Emirates for further treatment. The Dubai-Israel flight was forced to land in Saudi Arabia after the incident, following which Machchhar was taken to a military hospital there for medical care. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia had earlier said that his condition was stable. He is now being treated in the UAE.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the state’s ‘Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award’ for Machchhar in recognition of his courage during the incident. Patel praised the pilot for his bravery and said his actions while injured helped protect the passengers on board. Special prayers were also performed at the Somnath temple in Gujarat for Machchhar’s speedy recovery, with priests beginning a Mahamrityunjaya Mantra ritual.