Crash-Axe Blow Fractured Captain Smit Machchhar's Skull; Emergency Surgery in Saudiਕ੍ਰੈਸ਼ ਐਕਸ ਹਮਲੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਪਤਾਨ ਸਮਿਤ ਮੱਛਰ ਦੀ ਖੋਪੜੀ ਦੀ ਹੱਡੀ ਟੁੱਟੀ; ਸਾਊਦੀ ਅਰਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ ਸਰਜਰੀ

Fresh medical details have emerged about the injuries suffered by Captain Smit Machchhar, the 38-year-old Indian pilot who fought off a violent cockpit attack aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073. According to sources cited by NDTV, the co-pilot struck Machchhar with a crash axe, leaving him with a depressed skull fracture — a serious injury in which a fragment of the skull is pushed inward toward the brain.

The attack took place on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew. Despite severe blood loss and the head injury, Machchhar managed to reach the cockpit door and unlock it, allowing crew members and passengers to rush in, overpower the co-pilot, and stabilise the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

What the medical reports reveal

Sources said doctors in Saudi Arabia treated Machchhar on an emergency basis, reconstructing his skull before he was flown to the United Arab Emirates. He was airlifted to Abu Dhabi last week and admitted to a military hospital, where he continues to be treated by specialist doctors.

Alongside the skull fracture, Machchhar suffered injuries to his limbs, chest and upper abdominal area. The Indian Embassy in the UAE has said he is making steady progress and responding well to treatment, and that his family has been allowed to meet him.

Fresh reports also suggest the assault may have affected his vision. Sources told CNN-News18 that the blow may have impacted his optic nerves, and Machchhar himself told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his vision had blurred while he was trying to stop the attacker.

How Machchhar survived the cockpit struggle

Recounting the sequence of events during a video call with the Israeli leader, Machchhar said the flight was normal until the Omani co-pilot stood up to pray. After a few minutes, Machchhar said, he was struck hard on the back of his head — and the blows kept coming. It was then, he said, that he realised the threat was not the aircraft but the other man in the cockpit.

Badly injured, he fought through the pain, telling Netanyahu there was still "one last fight left in me." He managed to push against the door controls and open the cockpit door, which had earlier been closed again by the co-pilot. People waiting outside rushed in and restrained the attacker.

The episode has already triggered multiple investigations. Probe reports cited earlier alleged the co-pilot was planning to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion airport in Israel in a 9/11-style attack, and Australian authorities have opened a counter-terror probe into the co-pilot's past in Australia.

Recovery and what comes next

The embassy in Abu Dhabi said it remains in close coordination with local authorities to ensure Machchhar's continued medical care and well-being. World leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — who spoke to Machchhar on a video call last week — have hailed the pilot's composure, and the US House of Representatives has introduced a resolution honouring him.

What is a depressed skull fracture?

It is a serious head injury in which part of the skull is driven inward toward the brain. It can be dangerous because broken bone fragments may press against or injure the brain, and it often requires surgery to repair.

Where is Captain Machchhar being treated now?

After emergency treatment and skull-reconstruction surgery in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, he was airlifted to Abu Dhabi and is being treated at a military hospital in the UAE, where he is reported to be responding well.

What happened aboard flight FZ1073?

On the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar with a crash axe inside the cockpit. Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door despite his injuries, crew and passengers overpowered the co-pilot, and the plane landed safely at Tabuk.