- Dentist Shota Musaev aided injured Captain Smit Machchhar.
- Captain fought co-pilot to ensure passenger safety.
- Musaev used ice, conversation to keep pilot conscious.
Indian Captain Smit Machchhar displayed courage by fighting off his co-pilot to save the lives of the passengers on the flydubai FZ1073 flight to Tel Aviv. A dentist on board, in a conversation with UAE's The National, stated that Machchhar was bleeding after confronting the co-pilot. While recalling the incident, 47-year-old Shota Musaev stated that the Indian captain was bleeding from the head and the left hand.
'Used Ice To Heal Wounds'
The dentist further stated that for almost 45 minutes, he used ice packets to cover the deep cuts, adding that Machchhar was severely bleeding. The dentist further stated that he held conversation with Machchhar to ensure that he was in his senses. Musaev further stated that while the passengers were panicked due to the incident, Machchhar kept his cool and co-operated with his instructions.
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"I told him, 'Please don't sleep, we need you.' I asked how many children he had, their names. I kept telling him, 'Don't be afraid, you will go back to your family, we are landing soon,'" Dr Musaev was quoted as saying by the UAE daily. He further stated that he pressed the wound with ice, however, he insisted that he did not press hard to ensure that the bleeding stopped.
'Kept Pressure On For 45 Minutes'
"He had very, very deep cuts and we needed many ice packets. But every time I opened the T-shirt to check the bleeding, it would bleed more. So I pressed not very hard and with ice. All through the 45 minutes I kept the pressure on," he added.
Dr Musaev further stated that Machchhar repeatedly asked for his help and maintained that he did not want to die in the plane. "He said to me, 'Help me, please. Help me, please. I don't want to die here," the doctor said. Dr Musaev, while expressing gratitude towards Machchhar, stated that he would again like to meet the co-pilot and thank him.