President Isaac Herzog invites the injured captain to Jerusalem after he thwarted an in-flight cockpit assault on Flight FZ1073 to save 174 people
JERUSALEM / DUBAI —Israeli President Isaac Herzog will confer the country’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism on Indian commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, honoring his decisive actions to thwart an in-flight attack aboard a flydubai passenger jet carrying 174 people.
In an official letter addressed to the convalescing aviator, Herzog hailed Machchhar as a “hero of Israel, India, and all of humanity,” formally inviting him to Jerusalem once his medical treatment concludes.
The commendation follows the mid-air crisis aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 en route between Tel Aviv and Dubai, during which the aircraft’s first officer launched a violent assault inside the cockpit. Despite sustaining severe head trauma, including a depressed skull fracture, Machchhar managed to unlock the armored flight-deck door, enabling cabin crew, off-duty aviators, and passengers to overpower the attacker.
The Boeing 737 was subsequently diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, landing safely without any passenger fatalities. Machchhar was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to a specialized medical facility in Dubai, where he continues his recovery under the joint supervision of UAE authorities and the Indian diplomatic mission.
“Your ability to find the strength to rise above the pain, to combat the immediate threat to your life, and to operate sound judgment demonstrates the strength of your character and the great valour you possess,” Herzog wrote in his correspondence to the pilot.
Herzog drew historical parallels to the deployment of Indian soldiers across the Levant during the First World War. “Your heroics place you in the distinguished ranks of Indian troops who risked their lives over 100 years ago to liberate cities in the region, forever becoming a part of Israel’s history,” the president noted, adding that the captain’s resilience will cement bilateral ties between New Delhi and Jerusalem.
The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism represents Israel’s highest non-military commendation, established to formally recognize civilians who risk their lives to protect others during extreme security crises. During a recent state ceremony in Jerusalem, Herzog presented civilian bravery medals to six Israeli passengers who assisted in subduing the cockpit assailant.
The pilot’s actions have also drawn international recognition elsewhere. Lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution commending Machchhar and the crew for foiling what authorities described as a catastrophic disruption.
