UAE Honours Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Thwarting Cockpit Attack
The United Arab Emirates recognized Indian aviator Captain Smit Machchhar alongside fellow flydubai crew members with the First Class Order of Zayed II, conferred by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The medals were handed over by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, during a presidential reception in Dubai.
Public appearances at the commendation event revealed visible stitches along Captain Machchhar's skull, resulting from a compound depressed skull fracture suffered during the flight. The Boeing passenger aircraft was operating from Dubai toward Tel Aviv carrying more than 170 travelers when the co-pilot, identified by Israeli authorities as Omani citizen Hamam al-Hammami, initiated an assault inside the cockpit using a crash axe.
Flight FZ1073 transmitted emergency transponder codes 7700 and 7500 during the incident.
Mid-Air Descent and Cockpit Door Unlock
During the altercation, the co-pilot placed the airliner into a steep descent that caused the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. While injured on the cockpit floor, Captain Machchhar drew upon his remaining physical strength to activate the electronic release mechanism on the armored cockpit access door. The unlocked entrance allowed cabin attendants and passengers to intervene rapidly and restrain the assailant.
Among the passengers who rushed forward, plumber Yaniv Hayun subdued the co-pilot and manipulated the control column using knowledge gained from aviation documentaries, while travelers Asaf Rajuan and Zvika Manes helped secure the attacker using headphone cables. Dentist Shota Musaev administered first aid to the wounded captain. With the cockpit secured, two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling aboard the flight assumed flight controls and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Following the mid-air incident, flydubai deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew, according to Gulf Business.
Medical Recovery and Global Commendations
Captain Machchhar received initial surgical care at a hospital in Tabuk before government authorities transferred him to advanced medical facilities in Abu Dhabi. While Machchhar was recuperating, Sheikh Hamdan visited him in hospital to commend his alertness in preventing a possible tragedy. Following the Dubai awards ceremony, flydubai personnel expressed gratitude to the UAE presidency, noting that the honour highlights the dedication demonstrated by commercial flight crews.
On October 27, 2026, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on the crew in Abu Dhabi, according to AeroCorner.
The civil decoration forms part of wider international recognition for the Indian aviator. The Gujarat state administration has honoured Captain Machchhar with the Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award, while Israeli government authorities have proposed conferring the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his actions during the flight.