Nearly a month after surviving a violent cockpit attack aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, Captain Smit Machchhar has made a public appearance, revealing visible scars and surgical staples across the back of his head.
The images emerged during a presidential ceremony in the UAE on October 27, where Machchhar and fellow crew members received the First Class Order of Zayed II for their courage during the September 30 incident.
Machchhar was reportedly attacked repeatedly with the aircraft’s emergency crash axe by his co-pilot while the Boeing 737 MAX was operating a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Despite serious injuries and significant blood loss, he managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. Two reserve pilots subsequently took control and diverted the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The captain underwent emergency surgery in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. Neurosurgeon Dr Sanat Dixit later suggested on X that the reported injuries could involve a complex skull fracture near a major venous channel responsible for draining blood from the brain. However, the precise internal damage and surgical findings have not been independently confirmed through a public medical report.
Machchhar’s recovery and visible scars serve as a powerful reminder of the ordeal he endured and the actions he took to help protect everyone aboard the aircraft. His bravery has earned widespread recognition across the aviation community.