Israel to honour Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar with Presidential Civilian Heroism Award
Synopsis
An Indian pilot, attacked mid-flight with a crash axe by his co-pilot, opened the cockpit door while injured — enabling passengers to overpower the attacker and save 174 lives. Israel is now giving Captain Smit Machchhar its highest civilian bravery honour, and PM Netanyahu has invited both him and PM Modi to light a flame at Israel's next Independence Day.
Key Takeaways
Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism , the country's highest civilian bravery honour.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced the award on 9 October 2026 , to be conferred after the pilot's recovery.
Co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami attacked Captain Machchhar with a cockpit crash axe; UAE authorities have classified it as a 'terrorist attack'.
Despite being injured, Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower the attacker and save 174 people .
Six Israeli civilians — Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov — also received the award at a ceremony in Jerusalem .
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Captain Machchhar and PM Narendra Modi to light a flame at Israel's next Independence Day ceremony.
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is set to receive Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism — the country's highest bravery honour for civilians — after he fought off an attacking co-pilot aboard a Flydubai aircraft and helped save 174 people on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight last week. Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced the award on 9 October 2026, stating it would be conferred once the injured Indian pilot recovers.
What President 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,' President Herzog said. 'Captain Machchhar's sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism helped avert a catastrophe. Once he regains his 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.'
What Happened Aboard the Flydubai Flight
According to the United Arab Emirates probe, co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami attacked Captain Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe in what UAE authorities have described as a 'terrorist attack'. Al-Hammami then attempted to seize control of the aircraft, which was carrying over 170 passengers. Despite sustaining injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers onboard to intervene and physically overpower the attacker — a sequence of events that investigators say prevented a potential mass-casualty disaster.
Six Israeli Civilians Also Honoured
At a ceremony held at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, President Herzog also presented the same award to six Israeli civilians who played a direct role in subduing the co-pilot. The recipients were Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov, according to local media reports.
PM Netanyahu's Invitation to Modi
Earlier, Captain Machchhar recounted the terrifying moments in the cockpit when he realised his co-pilot had turned on him, during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a significant diplomatic gesture, Netanyahu invited both Captain Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame at Israel's next Independence Day ceremony, underscoring the depth of goodwill the episode has generated between the two nations.
India's Response and What Comes Next
The recognition from Israel has drawn wide attention in India, with the pilot's act of bravery celebrated across the country. Captain Machchhar is currently recovering from his injuries; the formal award ceremony will take place once he is medically cleared. The incident has also put a spotlight on cockpit security protocols, with aviation authorities in multiple countries expected to review emergency response procedures in light of the attack.
Point of View
But for the diplomatic signal it sends. Israel presenting its highest civilian honour to an Indian national — and Netanyahu personally inviting PM Modi to a ceremonial lighting — elevates what could have been a routine aviation-security story into a geopolitical moment for India-Israel ties. What mainstream coverage underplays is the structural question this incident raises: cockpit security frameworks in most jurisdictions were designed to keep threats out, not to account for a threat already inside. If the UAE probe confirms a premeditated attack, aviation regulators worldwide will face pressure to revisit dual-pilot protocols and crash-axe access rules. Captain Machchhar's courage deserves every honour — but the system that put him alone in that cockpit with an armed attacker also deserves scrutiny.
NationPress
9 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Israeli Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism?
It is Israel's highest bravery award for civilians, presented by the President of Israel to individuals who display exceptional courage in protecting others. Captain Smit Machchhar will receive it for fighting off an axe-wielding co-pilot to save 174 passengers on a Flydubai flight.
What happened on the Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv flight?
Co-pilot Hamam Al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, according to the UAE probe, which classified the act as a terrorist attack. Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower Al-Hammami and avert a potential disaster.
When will Captain Machchhar receive the award?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced the award on 9 October 2026 and said it will be conferred once Captain Machchhar has fully recovered from his injuries. No specific date for the ceremony has been announced yet.
Who else received the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism?
Six Israeli civilians — Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov — were presented the award at a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem for their role in subduing the attacker onboard the flight.
What did Israeli PM Netanyahu say about PM Modi and Captain Machchhar?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited both Captain Smit Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame at Israel's next Independence Day ceremony, in recognition of the pilot's extraordinary bravery.
