UAE honours Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and his flydubai crew with the Order of Zayed II for saving flight FZ1073

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and fellow flydubai crew members for protecting passengers during an attempted mid-air attack on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight last month. The medals were presented on Tuesday (27 October) by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Media Office said.

“UAE President confers the First Class Order of Zayed II on the flydubai crew members involved in September’s in-flight incident, in recognition of their courageous efforts to ensure the safety of passengers. The honours were presented by Hamdan bin Mohammed, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility,” Dubai Media Office said in a post on X.

Machchhar and the crew received the award at a presidential reception. The crew members thanked the President and said they were proud to receive the honour, according to the statement. Israel has also announced a civilian bravery award for the captain, to be presented after he recovers, India Today reported.

The incident took place on 30 September aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. Midway through the flight, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar with the cockpit crash axe, seriously injuring him, and the jet dropped sharply.

Although badly hurt, Machchhar managed to release the cockpit door. That let passengers and crew overpower the co-pilot, and a second pair of flydubai pilots who were travelling on board landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The co-pilot was taken into custody. Machchhar was treated in hospital in Tabuk before being moved to Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Hamdan had visited Machchhar in hospital on 3 October. “From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” he said in a social media post. The captain has also been praised by leaders in India, Israel and the United States, India Today reported.