UAE Honors Captain Smit Machchhar for Bravery During flydubai Cockpit Attack

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, on Tuesday conferred the First-Class Order of Zayed II on Captain Smit Machchhar and the crew of flydubai Flight FZ1073, in recognition of their courage and their efforts to protect passengers during a serious in-flight terror incident. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, presented the honour.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also received the crew members on Tuesday, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

WHAT HAPPENED ON FZ1073

On September 30, the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a serious incident in the flight deck. Machchhar was injured, while crew members, off-duty pilots and passengers helped bring the situation under control. The aircraft landed safely, and all 172 passengers and crew were reported safe.

Machchhar unlatched the cockpit door, which let passengers and off-duty crew enter and restrain the co-pilot. He was attacked with an axe in what is seen as an attempt to bring down the aircraft. A hijacking distress signal was sent.

‘THE HIGHEST PRIORITY’

At the meeting, the leaders praised the crew’s role and courage and the high level of responsibility they showed in keeping passengers safe. They stressed that preserving human safety and security is the UAE’s highest priority and ultimate value.

While Machchhar was being treated for his injuries, Sheikh Hamdan visited him and praised his courage, sense of responsibility and commitment to protecting human life.

In a post on X, he said the pilot “embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.” “We are proud that he is part of our team... part of the story of our nation,” he wrote. “And part of what the UAE stands for... a nation of compassion... a nation of peace... and a nation of life.”

‘I’M JUST GLAD I WAS ABLE TO DO MY PART’

Earlier, Machchhar described the attack to the UAE’s state-owned The National. He said that when he was first hit, he thought something had gone badly wrong with the aircraft’s structure.

“In the next couple of seconds, when the hits kept on coming, I realised it was the other person who I thought was supposed to be on the team,” he said. He tried to free himself from his seat belts and block the blows, which landed on his head. His vision narrowed until he could see only outlines.

“Immediately, my hand went to the knob which opens the door,” he said, screaming for his colleagues. He lost consciousness and fell face down in the cockpit. As the plane dropped 17,000 feet, he said, “the scariest thing that I heard and felt was the engines spooling down.”

Asked whether the ordeal had dimmed his love of flying, he said: “Not at all. Not at all. I’m just glad that I was able to do my part.”

OTHER HONOURS

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said he will confer Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism on Machchhar.

With inputs from ANI