The dramatic Flydubai cockpit attack of Indian Captain Smit Machchhar has revealed another extraordinary part of the incident: the desperate 45-minute effort by a passenger-dentist to keep the injured pilot alive.
Dr Shota Musaev, a Georgian dentist living in Israel, was traveling aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when chaos erupted inside the cockpit.
Captain Machchhar was seriously injured during an attack by his co-pilot, leaving him with deep cuts and heavy bleeding.
After hearing screams and rushing to the cockpit with other passengers, Musaev found the captain badly injured.
The dentist immediately turned his attention to controlling the bleeding and keeping Machchhar conscious while the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
Musaev later recalled that Machchhar was bleeding heavily from his head and left hand. With no medical equipment available immediately, he applied T-shirts to pressure the wounds and requested ice from the cabin crew. He continued the effort for around 45 minutes as the flight headed towards an emergency landing.
The situation became more critical as Machchhar’s vital signs deteriorated. Musaev said the captain’s pulse was very low at one point, and he had to raise his feet. His pulse eventually improved. When Machchhar’s lips turned blue, the dentist warned the cabin crew that the plane needed to land quickly.
Musaev also kept the injured pilot awake. He talked to Machchhar about his family and children and assured him that he would return to them. The captain, in extreme pain, pleaded for help and expressed his will to survive.
Machchhar told Musaev, “My God is with me. I want to live. I don’t want to die here.” The emotional statement showed the severity of the situation as the injured pilot struggled to survive.
The dentist said he avoided giving Machchhar painkillers because of the extent of his bleeding and the risks involved. He did give him water and monitored him while keeping pressure on his wounds.
The emergency occurred as the plane was in the middle of a serious cockpit emergency that put all on board at risk. Machchhar had managed to open the cockpit door despite his injury, allowing passengers and crew to help. Two off-duty pilots also helped control the plane prior to landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The incident has also emphasized the role that several passengers and crew members played during the crisis. Musaev has acknowledged that the response from the whole group was not necessarily the only ones to save the group.
Captain Machchhar is recovering from his injuries and has been treated for his injuries, and recent reports have indicated his condition is improving.
The Indian pilot has been widely praised for his courage and presence of mind during one of the most dangerous moments of the flight.
The dentist’s account adds a personal dimension to what happened after Machchhar was injured and how ordinary passengers stepped forward in an extraordinary emergency.
