Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Honoured With UAE Top Civilian Bravery Award

Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been awarded the United Arab Emirates top civilian bravery award, the First Class Order of Zayed II, for his actions during an in-flight attack. IANS LIVE, News On AIR, and LatestLY reported that the UAE President conferred the honour in recognition of his extraordinary bravery. Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated the pilot for helping to save the lives of passengers and preventing a crash, according to IANS LIVE. [1][3][4]

The incident occurred on 30 September 2026 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act, attacking Captain Machchhar with the cockpit emergency crash axe. Machchhar sustained life-threatening injuries but managed to open the cockpit door from the inside, allowing crew members and passengers to enter and subdue the attacker. [8][10]

Following the intervention by the crew and passengers, the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with no fatalities among the 174 people on board. Machchhar received initial medical treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia before being transported by air medical services to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. As HEROIC BREAKING NEWS reported earlier, the entire flight crew was also recognized and awarded for securing the aircraft during the mid-air emergency. [8][11]

Piyush Goyal, who serves as India 13th Minister of Commerce and Industry, praised Captain Machchhar for his bravery. Machchhar has also been named as a recipient of Israel highest civilian bravery award for defending the aircraft and saving everyone on board, as HEROIC BREAKING NEWS reported earlier. [1][7][12]