Israeli Dentist Saves Flydubai Pilot After Co-pilot’s Axe Attack
An Israeli dentist who was a passenger on a Flydubai flight spent 45 minutes applying emergency pressure to a deep head wound after the flight’s captain was attacked with an axe by the co-pilot.
The Mid-Air Attack on Flight FZ1073
Passenger Shota Musaev heard screams coming from the cockpit on flight FZ1073 and rushed forward to help subdue the attacker alongside other individuals, according to NDTV. Musaev found Captain Smith Marchar lying on the floor with blood covering the area. Co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammaami had used an axe to inflict deep wounds to the captain’s head, neck, and arm.
Lacking proper medical supplies on board, Musaev used a t-shirt to press against the wounds and asked flight attendants for ice to help stanch the bleeding. The doctor kept applying pressure for 45 minutes as blood continued to well up whenever the fabric was adjusted to check the injuries, leaving Captain Marchar with a fractured skull.
Musaev Keeps Captain Marchar Conscious During Emergency
Musaev maintained a continuous dialogue with Captain Marchar throughout the ordeal to keep him conscious. He asked the pilot about his children and repeated that he needed to stay awake to return to his family. Meanwhile, Captain Marchar pleaded for help and expressed fear of dying on the aircraft.
The captain’s condition deteriorated when his pulse dropped significantly and his lips turned blue, prompting Musaev to urge flight attendants that the aircraft needed to land quickly. Musaev refused the captain’s repeated requests for pain relievers, fearing the medication would increase bleeding, though he allowed him small sips of water and restricted his movement. Musaev checked the pilot’s pulse, lip color, speech capability, and consciousness level for the remainder of the flight until it landed in Saudi Arabia.
Aftermath and Medical Recovery in the United Arab Emirates
Following the landing, Musaev handed Captain Marchar over to ground medical teams with words of encouragement. Musaev credited the pilot with saving the passengers first, stating that Marchar’s actions prior to the assault protected everyone on board. On October 6, the Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates announced that Captain Marchar was improving steadily and recovering from his injuries in a hospital. Prior to that update, Captain Marchar had participated in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a UAE hospital.