New Delhi: Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar suffered a depressed skull fracture, severe head injuries and severely impaired vision when his co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, according to fresh details emerging from the September 30 incident.
Sources cited by multiple reports said Machchhar suffered a depressed fracture, in which a fragment of the skull is pushed inward. He also sustained injuries to his hands, limbs and other parts of his body, with the attack causing heavy blood loss. Doctors in Saudi Arabia provided emergency treatment and reconstructed the damaged portion of his skull before he was shifted to Abu Dhabi for further care.
Machchhar himself described the severity of his injuries during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the initial blows to the back of his head left his vision “completely blurred” and made it extremely difficult for him to see.
flydubai Hero Pilot’s Skull Fractured In Attack, Undergoes Emergency Surgery In Saudi
https://t.co/mYPQi0Y8ZI@ghazalimohammad reports https://t.co/FEYKJFERiR
— NDTV (@ndtv) October 6, 2026
Despite the injuries, blood loss and disorientation, Machchhar realised that the aircraft was rapidly descending. He managed to reach and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attacker. His action proved critical in preventing a potentially catastrophic outcome.
The aircraft was subsequently stabilised with the assistance of two off-duty pilots on board and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Machchhar received emergency medical treatment. He was later airlifted to Abu Dhabi for specialised care.
Doctors are continuing to monitor his neurological condition and vision. Reports say he has shown signs of improvement, while the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said on October 6 that Machchhar is “making steady progress and regaining his health.”
The latest reports therefore establish that Machchhar suffered a serious depressed skull fracture and significant vision impairment, but there is currently no confirmed indication that the vision damage is permanent. His recovery remains under close medical supervision.
