Captain Smit Machchhar’s health is improving: MEA

Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture honouring Flydubai ‘hero’ Captain Smit Machchhar, in Puri. File. | Photo Credit: ANI

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).

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this during his bi-weekly media briefing.

"Capt Machchhar is in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. 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.

"According to the information that we have, his health is improving, and after operation, he is in the stage of recuperation. He is responding well," Mr. Jaiswal said.