ABU DHABI — UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II to the captain and crew of flydubai Flight FZ1073 in recognition of their courage and professionalism in protecting passengers during a mid-air emergency on September 30.
The honour was presented on Tuesday, October 27, by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, during a reception attended by senior UAE leaders, including Vice President and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was seriously injured in the incident, was among those honoured.
The First Class Order of Zayed II is a prestigious UAE civilian decoration, named after the country’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is typically conferred on diplomats, senior officials and individuals for distinguished service, contributions to public safety or strengthening ties with the UAE. In this case, it recognised the crew’s decisive actions to safeguard lives and secure the aircraft.
The September 30 incident
Flight FZ1073 was operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board when the first officer, identified in reports as 29-year-old Omani national Hamam Al Hammami, attacked Captain Machchhar inside the cockpit with a crash axe kept for emergencies. The captain sustained serious injuries. Despite this, he managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling cabin crew, off-duty pilots travelling as passengers and other passengers to intervene and restrain the attacker.
The Boeing 737 experienced a sharp descent before control was regained. The flight diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All passengers and crew survived. UAE authorities later described the episode as an attempted terrorist attack aimed at crashing the aircraft.
Captain Machchhar, who has extensive experience on the Boeing 737 and previously flew for SpiceJet before joining flydubai, has been recovering from his injuries. He appeared at the October 27 ceremony with his arm in a sling. Sheikh Hamdan had earlier visited him in hospital on October 3, praising his “highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life” and stating that the UAE was proud he formed “part of our team… part of the story of our nation.”
Official recognition and statements
At the presidential reception, UAE leaders paid tribute to the crew’s high level of responsibility in maintaining passenger safety and security, emphasising that protecting human life remains a core national priority. The crew members expressed gratitude for the recognition.
The identities of all honoured crew members beyond Captain Machchhar have not been publicly detailed in official statements. The award elevates the response to the FZ1073 incident from an airline operational matter to formal national recognition.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has separately indicated plans to award Captain Machchhar Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. The incident drew international attention and praise from various leaders for the actions that prevented a potential catastrophe.
The ceremony underscores the UAE’s practice of formally honouring exceptional service and composure under extreme pressure in the aviation sector.
About the Author
