Israel to award injured Indian pilot for flight emergency

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on October 8 that Indian pilot Smit Machchhar will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his actions during an emergency aboard a Flydubai flight. The award will be presented after Machchhar recovers. At the same ceremony, Herzog presented the honor to six Israeli passengers who helped respond to the incident. The emergency took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Reports say Machchhar was attacked in the cockpit by his copilot, identified as Omani national Hamam alHammami. Accounts describe the attack as an alleged attempt to take control of or crash the aircraft; investigators have not confirmed the copilot’s motive. According to reports, Machchhar, despite serious injuries, opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to enter and restrain the copilot. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The evidence reviewed does not establish a consistent passenger-and-crew total, so no single count is included here.