Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced that Capt. Smit Machchhar, the Flydubai pilot whose heroism saved 174 lives aboard flight FZ1073, will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism — the country’s highest bravery award for civilians — once he regains strength and recovers from his injuries.
Herzog made the announcement on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during an award ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, where he presented the same decoration to six Israeli passengers who helped restrain the co-pilot who tried to crash the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on September 30.
What Herzog said about the Indian captain
Addressing the award recipients at the ceremony, Herzog said: “Alongside the Israeli heroes whom we honour today, we send our heartfelt wishes for the full and speedy recovery of Captain Smit Machchhar of India.”
“Captain Machchhar’s sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism helped avert this catastrophe,” the President continued. “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 Hindu reported.
Herzog later repeated the pledge on X: “I was honored to award 6 Israeli heroes of the flydubai flight with the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. I look forward to presenting the heroic Captain Smit Machchhar of India with the same award, once he fully recovers.”
The six Israelis honoured alongside him
The six passengers who received the award at Thursday’s ceremony were named by the President’s Office as Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov. They were decorated for their role in preventing the would-be hijacker from crashing the aircraft after Machchhar, despite serious injuries, managed to open the cockpit door and summon help.
According to The Jerusalem Post‘s reporting cited by the President’s Office, Herzog praised the heroes of flight 1073 for their “simple, human, and profoundly Israeli act: At the moment when a choice had to be made — you chose life.”
About the award: Israel’s highest civilian honour for heroism
The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism is Israel’s highest civilian award for heroism. Established by President Herzog after the October 7 attacks, it expresses the State of Israel’s recognition of individuals who acted with exceptional heroism, at real risk to their own lives, out of mutual responsibility, and in order to save human life, according to the President’s Office.
Machchhar’s decoration will be presented personally once doctors declare him fit — a rare gesture underscoring how deeply his actions resonated in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already hailed Machchhar as a “true hero,” telling CNN the injured pilot, passengers and crew had “managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster.” On Saturday, Netanyahu called the injured pilot directly and invited him — along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi — to light a ceremonial torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony next spring, an honour usually reserved for esteemed Israeli citizens. “You’re a hero of Israel, you’re a hero of India, you’re a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told him, CNN reported.
Machchhar’s recovery: “responding well” in Abu Dhabi
Machchhar remains in hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he was airlifted after emergency treatment in Saudi Arabia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on October 7 that his health is improving.
“Capt Machchhar is in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. Our Embassy in the UAE has been in regular touch with his family, his doctors, and hospital and local authorities there, so as to get the latest update about his health,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. “According to the information that we have, his health is improving, and after operation, he is in the stage of recuperation. He is responding well,” The Hindu reported.
India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, who visited Machchhar in hospital on October 1, said the pilot was “in good health and recovering well” and later described him as “smiling, laughing, chatting.” The Indian Embassy in the UAE has since described his progress as “steady progress” and said he is “regaining his health,” according to the Hindustan Times.
What happened aboard FZ1073 on September 30
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers on board when Machchhar was attacked inside the cockpit by his Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, who struck him with a crash axe — typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies — and then attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it.
Despite a depressed skull fracture and severe injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew rushed in, overpowered the attacker, and a reserve crew landed the aircraft safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar underwent emergency cranial surgery in Saudi Arabia before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi.
The UAE Attorney General’s office has ruled the incident an attempted terrorist act, and on October 10 India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case under anti-hijacking and terror laws in connection with the alleged hijack bid — with provisions covering hijacking, terrorist acts and conspiracy — to probe the attack, possible lone-wolf terror motives and radicalisation networks, according to IANS.
A hero embraced across three nations
Machchhar’s story has drawn praise from leaders across India, the UAE and Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the pilot by phone, calling him a “hero” and conversing with him in Gujarati. Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Machchhar at his Abu Dhabi hospital on October 3, praising his “courage and responsibility.”
Israel’s move to bestow its highest civilian heroism award on a foreign pilot is itself unusual — and, once presented, will place Machchhar in the company of the six Israelis who stood beside him in the skies over Saudi Arabia that night.
For the full arc of this story, see our coverage of the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and Machchhar’s skull-fracture surgery.
FAQ
When did Israel announce the award for Smit Machchhar?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, that Capt. Smit Machchhar will receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism once he regains strength.
Who are the six Israelis who received the award?
Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov — the passengers who helped restrain the co-pilot after Machchhar opened the cockpit door.
What is the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism?
Israel’s highest civilian award for heroism, established by President Herzog after October 7, recognising individuals who acted with exceptional heroism, at real risk to their own lives, out of mutual responsibility and in order to save human life.
How is Capt. Machchhar doing now?
He is recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi. India’s MEA said on October 7 that he is “responding well” after his operation and is in the recuperation stage, and the Indian Embassy has described his progress as “steady.”
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