NEW DELHI: The UAE has honoured Captain Smit Machchhar and the crew of flydubai Flight FZ1073 for their courage in protecting passengers during a serious in-flight incident. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First-Class Order of Zayed II on the crew on Tuesday.The honour was presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, in the presence of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, also met the crew members on Tuesday.On September 30, Flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia following a serious incident in the cockpit. Captain 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.During the meeting, the UAE leaders praised the crew for their courage and sense of responsibility in protecting passengers. They stressed that human safety and security remain the UAE’s highest priority.While Machchhar was receiving treatment for his injuries, Sheikh Hamdan visited him and praised his courage, sense of responsibility and commitment to protecting human life.The deputy prime minister expressed pride in Machchhar being part of the “story of our nation”.“During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life. From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise. We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life,” he wrote in a post on X.In an earlier interview with the UAE’s state-owned newspaper The National, Machchhar recalled the attack by the co-pilot and said he suffered several blows before he could open the cockpit door.“The first time when I was hit … my thought was something’s gone horribly wrong with the aircraft structure, which has fallen on my head. It almost made me fall on my control column. 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.”“My immediate action was to free myself from the seat belts. And I tried to just block the blows as much as I could, because the blows were coming on the head… While the first few blows came in, my vision … it was so narrow. I lost a lot. I was just looking (at) outlines,” he told The National.“Immediately, my hand went to the knob which opens the door. And (I was) screaming for my colleagues. I believe that was the first time when I lost consciousness. I fell face down in the cockpit,” he added.Recalling the moment when the aircraft plunged 17,000 feet, Machchhar said, “The scariest thing that I heard and felt was the engines spooling down.”Despite the attack, Machchhar said his love for flying remained unchanged.
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“Did my love die for aviation? Not at all. Not at all. I’m just glad that I was able to do my part.”Machchhar managed to unlatch the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to enter and restrain the co-pilot. The co-pilot had attacked him with an axe in an attempt to bring down the aircraft. A hijacking distress signal was also sent.The flight was diverted to Tabuk, where it made an emergency landing with the help of passengers who helped land the aircraft. All 180 occupants disembarked without injury, according to the account of the incident.Israeli President Isaac Herzog has also announced that he would confer Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism on Machchhar.
