Israeli dentist Shota Musaev performed emergency treatment on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, diverting the aircraft to Saudi Arabia after a hijack attempt that left more than 170 passengers in peril.
The attack began when co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami brandished an emergency crash axe and struck the captain in the cockpit. Passengers Yaniv Hayun and two other crew members seized the attacker, re‑established control, and guided the plane toward Jeddah.
Musaev, the only medical professional on board, rushed to the cockpit as screams erupted, restraining the assailant with a seatbelt before attending to the bleeding pilot. Using t‑shirts, ice packs, and makeshift compression, he kept Machchhar's pulse steady for 45 minutes while the plane flew.
Machchhar suffered a skull fracture and deep lacerations to his neck and hands, causing his pulse to drop dangerously low. Doctors in the UAE hospital have reported that he is now in stable condition, gradually regaining consciousness and showing signs of recovery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both praised the pilot as a hero. The Indian Embassy in the UAE announced that a judicial inquiry will be launched to investigate the hijack attempt, with the court hearing scheduled for next month.