Israel to Honour Pilot Machchhar For Foiling flydubai Hijack Attempt

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced plans to honour Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar with the State of Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his role in preventing a suspected hijacking attempt aboard a flydubai flight. Herzog made the announcement on October 8 while presenting awards to six Israeli civilians who helped stop the incident involving Flight 1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He praised Machchhar’s courage and professionalism despite severe injuries sustained during the cockpit attack, saying he would present the honour once the captain had recovered sufficiently.

“His sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism helped avert this catastrophe,” Herzog said, expressing his wishes for Machchhar’s full and speedy recovery. The Israeli president added that it would be an honour to present the award on behalf of the Israeli people when the Indian captain regained his strength. The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism recognises civilians who demonstrate exceptional courage while placing themselves in danger to save others. Herzog established the award following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack, after accounts emerged of civilians risking their lives to rescue people during the assault and the subsequent war.

The incident occurred on September 30 as the flydubai aircraft was travelling towards Tel Aviv. According to the reported account, co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane reportedly plunged around 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds as the emergency unfolded. Despite his serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing six passengers to intervene. They overpowered the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft helped regain control and divert the plane to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The actions of the captain and those who intervened helped prevent the situation from escalating into a potential disaster.

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Herzog also honoured six Israeli civilians for their role in stopping the attempted hijacking. They were identified as Tzvika and Tali Manes, Yaniv Hayun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov. Praising their actions, Herzog said their response reflected the courage and resourcefulness of people who choose to act when confronted with danger. He described their intervention as an example of the human instinct to protect others in a crisis. The recognition of the six civilians alongside the announcement concerning Machchhar underscored the contribution of passengers who intervened during the emergency and helped secure the cockpit.

Machchhar is also set to receive recognition in the United States. On October 5, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced House Resolution 1612 to honour his actions during the incident. The resolution was introduced by New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, with Republicans Michael McCaul and Don Bacon listed as co-sponsors. It praises Machchhar’s courage in protecting those aboard the aircraft and acknowledges the contributions of the off-duty pilots, cabin crew and passengers who helped secure the cockpit and bring the flight safely to the ground. The resolution’s introduction marks a separate recognition effort from Israel’s presidential award.

The planned Israeli honour and the US congressional resolution have brought international attention to Machchhar’s response during the flight emergency. The Israeli award is intended to recognise his actions despite the severity of his injuries, while the US resolution highlights the collective efforts of those who helped prevent the aircraft from being taken over. Herzog has said the award will be presented when Machchhar has recovered enough to receive it. The incident has also drawn attention to the role of trained flight crew and passengers in responding to an onboard emergency, with Machchhar’s actions and the intervention of others credited with helping avert a potentially catastrophic outcome.

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