flydubai Hijacking Scare: Days after the flydubai scare, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is set to become the first Indian to receive Israel's highest civilian gallantry award. He will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his role in preventing an alleged hijacking attempt aboard a flydubai flight, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced.
This comes after the September 30 scare on the Dubai flight, where an Omani copilot identified as Hamam al-Hammami reportedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, and tried to crash the plane. About 180 people were on board, and most were Israelis. The passengers were saved after the captain and several Israeli passengers stopped the attack and overpowered the copilot.
What the Israeli Government Said
According to the Government Press Office of Israel, along with Smith, the government will present the Presidential Medal for Civilian Heroism to six Israeli passengers who helped thwart the alleged attempt to crash flydubai Flight FZ1073 last week.
"...the Israeli heroes whom we honour today, we send our heartfelt wishes for the full and speedy recovery of Captain Smith Machchhar of India. Captain Machchhar’s sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism helped avert this catastrophe. 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."
The award to six Israeli civilians includes Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr. Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov for their roles in preventing the alleged hijacking attempt, according to The Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel.
Captain Machchhar is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi after sustaining severe injuries in the mid-air incident involving his copilot on September 30.
On Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian pilot was responding well to treatment and making progress in his recovery.
"Captain Machchhaar is in the hospital in Abu Dhabi," Jaiswal stated. "Our embassy in the UAE has been in regular touch with him, with his family, with local authorities, and with the hospital authorities. He's recuperating well. He's responding well. And his health is improving."
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How Captain Smit Saved Lives
On September 30, Indian Captain Smit Machchhar displayed immense courage by fighting off his copilot to save the lives of the passengers on flydubai Flight FZ1073 to Tel Aviv.
A foiled mid-air hijacking and crash attempt occurred on flydubai Flight FZ1073 when Omani copilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit.
The Omani copilot attacked Captain Machchhar with an axe in an attempt to bring down the aircraft. Despite suffering severe injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlatch the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to enter and restrain the attacker.
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The confrontation triggered a steep descent, with the aircraft dropping approximately 16,000 feet within two minutes before a hijacking distress signal was transmitted.
A dentist on board also said that Machchhar was bleeding after confronting the copilot. For almost 45 minutes, he used ice packets to cover the deep cuts, adding that Machchhar was bleeding severely.
Captain Machchhar was badly injured in the attack, suffering serious wounds to his head and arm. At first, he thought something inside the aircraft had hit him; however, Machchhar soon realized the copilot was attacking him. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and help.
Flight data showed that the aircraft had lost more than 16,000 feet in around 30 seconds. The aircraft was later diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 180 passengers safely landing without injury.