The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday honoured Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and members of his flydubai crew for their actions during an attempted mid-air attack on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. The ceremony also offered the first close-up look at the injury to the Indian pilot’s head.
The awards were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, at a presidential reception, news agency PTI reported. Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe, an emergency tool typically kept in the cockpit. The assault left the Indian pilot seriously injured, while the motive for the attack remains unclear. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot. A second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board then took control and landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot was taken into custody following the incident. Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. The crew’s actions helped contain the cockpit attack, protect those on board and ensure the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Machchhar and his fellow crew members in recognition of their efforts to protect passengers during the September 30 incident. The incident took place aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, stabbed Machchhar and caused the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Covered in blood and lying on the floor, he drew on “the last moments of his energy” to click open the door’s release mechanism.
He also visited the pilot in hospital and shared photographs from the meeting on X. Sheikh Mohamed received the flydubai crew at a council, where leaders commended their sense of responsibility in protecting passengers and maintaining security during the emergency. The leaders reiterated that protecting human life and ensuring security remain the UAE’s highest priorities. The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; and several other officials.
During Machchhar’s recovery, Crown Prince Hamdan praised his “courage” in averting a possible tragedy. The crew thanked the UAE President for the honour and expressed pride in receiving the recognition, which the statement said reflected the values of service, dedication and commitment.
