Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar's 45-minute fight for survival as dentist steps in mid-air

New Delhi: Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar survived a life-threatening cockpit attack on a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight after a dentist on board spent 45 minutes treating his severe bleeding, using improvised pressure dressings and ice packs.

Dr Shuta Musaev, a Georgian dentist living in Israel, was the only doctor on board when the co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly stabbed Machchhar and attempted to crash the aircraft carrying more than 170 passengers.

Speaking to ABC News, Musaev recalled finding Machchhar badly injured on the cockpit floor after hearing screams. He said the captain had suffered deep wounds to his head, neck and hands, with heavy bleeding from his head and left hand.

Musaev used T-shirts to apply pressure to the wounds and asked cabin crew for ice packs. He continued treating Machchhar throughout the 45-minute crisis, repeatedly checking his condition as the bleeding worsened whenever the dressings were removed.

"He had very, very deep cuts and we needed many ice packets," Musaev said. "So I pressed not very hard and with ice. All through the 45 minutes, I kept the pressure on."

The dentist also tried to keep the injured pilot conscious by talking to him and asking about his family.

"I told him, 'Please don't sleep, we need you,'" Musaev said. "I kept telling him, 'Don't be afraid, you will go back to your family, we are landing soon.'"

At one point, Machchhar's pulse dropped dangerously low. Musaev raised his legs, after which his pulse recovered. He became particularly concerned when the pilot's lips turned blue.

"I told the steward, 'We need to land quickly. He doesn't have much more time'," Musaev recalled.

Machchhar was also heard asking for painkillers in videos circulated on social media. However, Musaev said he decided against giving him medication because of the severity of his injuries and the risk of further bleeding.

"He was lying on his back and I hesitated to lift him because I didn't want re-bleeding. It was dangerous to move him or give him medicines," he said.

While Musaev treated the captain, another passenger, Yaniv Hayun, reportedly dragged the attacker away from the cockpit and helped take control of the aircraft before a third pilot took over.

Musaev continued monitoring Machchhar's pulse, breathing and other visible signs until the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia, where he handed the injured captain over to medical teams.

The dentist later said he and his wife experienced post-traumatic stress following the incident.

"Smit saved our lives. Smit is a hero and I thank him for everything he did to save my family and all the passengers," Musaev said.

Machchhar has since been hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Tuesday that Machchhar was making "steady progress" and "regaining his health" at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates.