Smit Machchhar to Receive Israel Bravery Award for Averting Crash
· World · Indian Express, NDTV, LiveMint
Indian Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel's Medal for Civilian Bravery for preventing a catastrophic crash aboard flydubai Flight FZ 1073. On September 30, 2026, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an Omani co-pilot assaulted the captain in the cockpit and threw the aircraft into a steep dive from 34,000 feet. Despite sustaining injuries, Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to subdue the attacker and land safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism will be presented to Captain Machchhar once he recovers from his injuries. Investigations revealed vetting lapses by Oman Air, where the co-pilot had previously been removed over extremism concerns without international notification.
Why it matters
The incident exposes critical cross-border airline vetting failures and honours the quick-thinking Indian pilot who saved dozens of lives.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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