Abu Dhabi, September 30 incident aftermath: The United Arab Emirates has formally recognized the heroism of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and his flydubai crew. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented them with the First Class Order of Zayed II at a presidential reception. The ceremony offered the first unfiltered look at the physical toll of the attack, showing Captain Machchhar with surgical staples across his head.
The injury resulted from a compound depressed skull fracture caused by a cockpit crash axe wielded by his co-pilot. Despite the severity, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. This action prevented a catastrophic crash after the jet plunged 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. The flight landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, handed over the medals. He commended the crew’s responsibility and courage in a statement released by the Dubai Media Office. The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration, typically reserved for distinguished service and contributions to international relations.
This is not the first recognition for Machchhar. The Gujarat government has already awarded him the Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award. Israeli authorities have also proposed a Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his actions. The motive behind the Omani co-pilot’s attack remains under investigation by Israeli officials.