UAE President honours Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for bravery during flydubai mid-air attack

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. (X/@DXBMediaOffice)

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and fellow Flydubai crew members the First Class Order of Zayed II for their courageous efforts to ensure the safety of passengers during an attempted mid-air attack aboard a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026.

The medals were presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also commended the crew’s actions, professionalism and strong sense of responsibility, Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Machchhar and the flydubai crew members received the award at the presidential reception.

“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,” the Dubai Media Office said in a post on X.

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 (@DXBMediaOffice) October 27, 2026

The ceremony was attended by several prominent UAE officials, including H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs; H.H. 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.

The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates, conferred by the UAE President to recognise distinguished service, courage and contributions to strengthening bilateral and international relations.

Flydubai attack

On September 30, flight FZ1073 left Dubai for Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, most of them Israelis. Midway through the flight, the Boeing 737 Max dropped sharply after Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Machchhar.

Passengers and other crew took back control of the cockpit, and the plane landed in Tabuk, in northwest Saudi Arabia.

Story continues below this ad

The Omani co-pilot was taken into custody, while Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for treatment.

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram