UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on flydubai crew members, including Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, recognising their courage in protecting passengers during an attempted mid-air attack aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on September 30.

The honours were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, who praised the crew for their professionalism and commitment to passenger safety.

The recognition follows an incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, during which the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar with a cockpit axe in what UAE prosecutors later described as an attempted “terrorist attack” aimed at crashing the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.