Abu Dhabi, October 28 . The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has bestowed its prestigious ‘Order of Zayed II’ (First Class) upon Indian pilot Captain Smit Machhar and other crew members of a Flydubai flight, recognizing their bravery in preventing a potential hijacking.
The honor was presented to the crew by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The Dubai Media Office shared this information on social media.
Commending the crew for their swift action, sense of responsibility, and professional competence, the UAE leadership stated, “Ensuring the safety of passengers is among the nation’s highest priorities.” The President met with the crew members, in the presence of senior officials, including the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
This recognition follows an incident that occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, the co-pilot attacked Captain Machhar in the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft. According to an investigation by UAE prosecutors, the perpetrator intended to crash the plane at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, which would have resulted in significant loss of life and property.
Despite sustaining serious injuries, Captain Machhar managed to open the cockpit door. Other crew members and passengers then intervened to subdue the attacker. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. In this incident, the lives of the passengers and crew members on board the aircraft were saved.
Following the incident, Sheikh Hamdan visited Captain Machhar in the hospital, commending his courage and his commitment to safeguarding human lives. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised his bravery.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced that, once he has recovered, Captain Machhar will be honored with the country’s award for civilian heroism.
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