Israel to Honour Indian Captain Smit Machchhar With Presidential Award for Heroism
President Isaac Herzog announces honour for the flydubai pilot who helped prevent a suspected hijacking attempt on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight; six other passengers have already received the award for their courageous actions.
TEL AVIV, Oct 9: Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel’s highest civilian honour for bravery for his role in preventing a suspected attempt to hijack a flydubai aircraft, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced.
Herzog made the announcement during a ceremony on Thursday at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, where six individuals who helped thwart the attempted hijacking of Flight 1073 were presented with the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
Expressing his wishes for Machchhar’s recovery, Herzog praised the Indian captain’s courage, professionalism and determination, saying his actions had helped avert a major tragedy.
“Once he regains strength, it will be my honour and privilege to award him, on behalf of the people of Israel, the State of Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism,” Herzog said.
The award is Israel’s highest civilian recognition for acts of exceptional bravery. Established by Herzog following the October 7, 2023, attacks, it honours individuals who risk their lives to protect others and demonstrate extraordinary courage and solidarity.
During Thursday’s ceremony, the award was presented to Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov for their role in preventing the suspected hijacker from crashing the aircraft, according to the President’s Office.
Herzog commended the recipients for choosing to protect human life in a moment of extreme danger. He described their actions as a powerful example of courage, solidarity and a shared commitment to saving others.
The incident occurred on September 30, when flydubai Flight 1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 172 passengers and crew members on board. Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, in an apparent attempt to seize control of the aircraft and crash it.
Despite his injuries, the Indian captain helped prevent the situation from escalating into a catastrophe, while other individuals on board also played crucial roles in stopping the suspected attacker.
Machchhar’s actions have drawn widespread appreciation in India and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have both praised his bravery.
The Indian captain is recovering at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates and is reported to be making steady progress. Herzog said the Israeli award would be formally conferred on him once his health improves sufficiently.
The Israeli president also used the ceremony to emphasise the importance of international cooperation in confronting terrorism. He said the incident demonstrated how people from different backgrounds and nationalities could work together to protect innocent lives.
Referring to the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Herzog spoke about the lasting trauma caused by terrorism and the need for vigilance, determination and cooperation among nations.
He expressed confidence in the investigation being conducted by the United Arab Emirates and acknowledged the cooperation between the countries in examining the incident.
The announcement of the award for Machchhar highlights the international recognition of his actions during a dangerous situation aboard the aircraft. His recovery remains a priority as he continues to receive medical care.
By recognising the Indian captain alongside the six individuals already honoured, Israel has sought to acknowledge the collective courage that helped prevent a potential aviation disaster and save the lives of those on board.
