Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in an attack by his co-pilot on a flydubai plane, is responding well after operation at a hospital in Abu Dhabi and his health is improving, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday (October 7, 2026).
“Capt Machchhar is in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. M. Mittal visited Captain Machchhar at the hospital.
On October 1, India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, said that Mr.
Our Embassy in the UAE has been in regular touch with his family, his doctors, and hospital and local authorities there, so as to get the latest update about his health,” he said. Machchhar was “in good health and recovering well”.
Two reserve pilots landed the aircraft safely at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk city, where the co-pilot was taken into custody and Machchhar was taken to a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. “Our embassy in the UAE has been in regular touch with him, with his family, with local authorities, and with the hospital authorities. He’s recuperating well. He’s responding well. And his health is improving.”
Earlier reporting noted: “Captain Machhaar is in the hospital in Abu Dhabi,” Jaiswal stated.
Earlier reporting noted: Providing an update on the pilot’s condition during a bi-weekly press briefing, MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal assured that Indian diplomatic authorities are in continuous contact with local officials and the hospital team overseeing his care. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Responding well’: MEA gives health update on pilot Smit Machchhar after flydubai cockpit attack Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot currently receiving medical treatment following a mid-air attack by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight, is making steady progress at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Wednesday.
