UAE Deputy PM Visits Injured flydubai Captain

UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited injured flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar in Abu Dhabi on October 3 and praised his actions during a cockpit incident aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The visit followed an emergency that left Machchhar injured and ended with the aircraft landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Hamdan, who is also Crown Prince of Dubai, said in a public post that Machchhar had shown courage, responsibility and care for human life. He conveyed appreciation on behalf of the UAE leadership and said the country was proud to have the pilot as part of its team. Photographs accompanying the post showed Sheikh Hamdan visiting Machchhar in hospital. The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073. Accounts say Machchhar was attacked by the copilot in the cockpit and, despite being injured, managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers entered and helped restrain the copilot, while other pilots aboard took control of the aircraft. The plane was diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.