When Dr. Shota Musaev boarded flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, he expected a routine flight home. Instead, the Georgian dentist living in Holon, Israel, found himself fighting for 45 minutes to keep severely injured Indian captain Smit Machchhar alive after the plane’s co-pilot launched a violent attack inside the cockpit.
The flight carrying over 170 passengers was thrown into chaos when first officer Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Machchhar with an emergency crash axe in an attempt to hijack and crash the Boeing 737. Despite sustaining a fractured skull and deep cuts across his head, neck, and hands, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing.
Makeshift First Aid at 30,000 Feet
Hearing screams from the front of the cabin, Dr. Musaev—the only medical professional on board—rushed forward. While Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun overpowered the attacker and briefly leveled the plunging aircraft before a third pilot took over, Musaev focused entirely on the bleeding captain lying on the cockpit floor.
With no specialized medical kit at hand, the dentist improvised critical first aid:
- T-Shirt Dressings & Ice Packs: Musaev used passengers’ T-shirts as makeshift bandages to press down on the deep wounds. When the bleeding continued, he packed the lacerations with ice packs provided by flight attendants to slow blood loss.
- Managing Vital Signs: When Captain Machchhar’s pulse dropped dangerously low and his lips turned blue, Musaev propped the captain’s feet up to restore blood circulation to his vital organs.
- Avoiding Re-Bleeding: Despite the captain pleading for painkillers, Musaev refused to administer pills or move him unnecessarily, offering only small sips of water to prevent vomiting or sudden spikes in blood loss.
‘Please Don’t Sleep, We Need You’
As the dire situation unfolded, Musaev continued to talk to Machchhar in order to keep him awake and fluid.
“I kept asking him questions about his family—how many children he has, what his children’s names are,” recounted Musaev. “And I kept saying, ‘Just stay calm. You will be with your family soon.’”
The Captain was in agony. “Just help me! I don’t want to die here!” he cried.
Meanwhile, a few passengers kept the cockpit secure as Musaev continued to keep watch over Machchhar’s breathing, pulse, and color of lips until the plane landed at Tabuk Airport.
“The captain was handed over to medical personnel after Musaev told him, ‘I wish you all the best, my friend! Everything will be alright!’”
“I am grateful to the man who helped us out of danger,” Musaev declared. “It’s karma—he saved us and we saved him.”
Captain Machchhar has been praised for his courage and is recovering well in a hospital in the UAE.
