The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it is closely following the health condition of Captain Smit Machchhar, who was attacked by his Omani co-pilot aboard a flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal said he was "very reassured" to meet Captain Machchhar, who is in "good health and recovering well".
"Very reassured to meet Capt Smit. Thank the UAE government for their support and medical care being extended," Mittal said on X. "We are proud of Capt Smit for his bravery to save so many lives and avert a tragedy."
Machchhar, who suffered serious injuries in the attack, has been shifted to an Abu Dhabi hospital for advanced treatment. He is being hailed as a hero for saving the lives of 180 people on board the flight as he ensured during the altercation that the cockpit door was unlocked despite being grievously injured. This allowed passengers and crew to subdue the attacker and enabled another pair of additional pilots aboard the jet to stabilise it.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Machchhar was stabbed in the head and had his arm "split in two". He was seen almost unconscious and covered in blood while being taken to a hospital near Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, where the flight made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
Ambassador Mittal said the embassy "remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well being."
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee took to X, saying,"I hope the entire nation of India is proud of Capt Machchhar! He is a hero in Israel today."
US leaders also praised Machchhar for his bravery. "Great work today Captain Machchhar. 174 lives were saved today because of your bravery," Congressman Marlin Stutzman from Indiana said on X.
South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace said, "HERO. Prayers for a quick and full recovery."
US Senator Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL and a trained pilot, praised the Indian pilot for sending the emergency signal to air traffic control while still fighting the co-pilot. "Thank God we had this guy. If it weren't for him... this would have been very different," Sheehy said.
