The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has honoured Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and the flydubai crew for their courage and professionalism during an in-flight emergency on September 30, when the seriously injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing crew members and passengers to intervene and help avert a potential tragedy.
A proud moment for Gujarat and for every Indian! 🇮🇳 Heartiest congratulations to Captain Smit Machchhar on being conferred the UAE’s prestigious Order of Zayed II (First Class). He is only the third Indian and the very first Gujarati to receive this distinguished honour. Inside the cockpit, at the moment of greatest danger, he chose duty over fear. He fought off the attacker and kept his passengers safe. Far from home, he carried Gujarat’s spirit of courage and service with pride, and today the world salutes it. Captain Smit is an inspiration to our youth: courage, calm and a sense of duty can make an ordinary moment extraordinary. Wishing him good health and many more laurels ahead.
— Bhupendra Patel (@Bhupendrapbjp) October 28, 2026
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on the crew members involved in the incident, recognising their bravery and efforts to protect passengers and ensure the safety of the aircraft during the emergency.
رئيس الدولة يستقبل بحضور محمد بن راشد، طاقم طائرة “فلاي دبي” خلال واقعة رحلة يوم 30 من شهر سبتمبر الماضي. وأشاد سموهما خلال اللقاء بدور الطاقم وشجاعته مثمنين المسؤولية العالية التي تحلى بها في الحفاظ على سلامة الركاب وأمنهم مؤكدين أن الحفاظ على أمن الإنسان وسلامته هما الأولوية القصوى والقيمة الأسمى لدولة الإمارات.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 27, 2026
The recognition comes amid widespread international appreciation for Machchhar, whose actions have drawn praise from leaders in India, the UAE, Israel and the United States.
Israel has also announced a civilian bravery award for the Indian captain in recognition of his courage. The honour will be presented after he recovers from his injuries.
The honours were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
UAE honours crew for protecting passengers during in-flight emergency
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, also received the crew members on Tuesday and recognised their contribution during the emergency.
The UAE leadership commended the crew’s courage, professionalism and commitment to protecting passengers and securing the aircraft under difficult circumstances. It reiterated that ensuring the safety and security of people remains a key priority for the country.
The crew members expressed their gratitude to the UAE President for the recognition and said they were proud to receive the honour.
The award acknowledges their role in responding to the incident and helping prevent the situation from escalating into a potentially serious tragedy.
Earlier, on October 3, Sheikh Hamdan had visited Captain Machchhar while he was undergoing treatment for injuries sustained during the incident. During the visit, the Crown Prince praised the Indian pilot for his courage, composure and sense of responsibility during a difficult emergency.
Sheikh Hamdan said Machchhar had demonstrated the highest levels of bravery and concern for human life, describing the captain’s actions as an example of courage and dedication to the safety of others.
Sheikh Hamdan praises Captain Machchhar, calls UAE a nation of compassion and peace
“From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise,” Sheikh Hamdan said in a social media post.
He also expressed the UAE’s pride in having Machchhar as part of its team and national story, highlighting the country’s values of compassion, peace and respect for human life.
The Crown Prince said the UAE was proud to count the Indian captain among those associated with the country, describing it as “a nation of compassion … a nation of peace … and a nation of life”.
The visit followed the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority’s commendation of Machchhar, the flight crew and the passengers who helped bring the cockpit incident under control.
(With IANS inputs)
