Israeli President thanks Indian pilot Capt Smit Machchhar, recommends 4 for civilian heroism award
Synopsis
Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally thanked Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar on X after the severely injured airman fought off an in-flight attacker aboard flydubai FZ1073, helped by four Israeli passengers who overpowered the assailant and steadied the aircraft before an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Herzog has now recommended all four civilians for Israel's highest civilian bravery honour.
Key Takeaways
Israeli President Isaac Herzog publicly thanked Captain Smit Machchhar , Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 , for saving lives during a mid-air attack on 1 October 2026 .
Captain Machchhar was stabbed and severely injured during the flight but continued to act, fighting off the attacker and opening the cockpit door.
The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia , after passengers overpowered the assailant and steadied the controls.
Herzog recommended four Israeli civilians — Yaniv Hayoun , Dr Shota Musayev , Zvika Manes , and Asaf Rajuan — for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism , Israel's highest civilian gallantry honour.
Dr Musayev provided lifesaving medical treatment to the wounded Indian pilot, stabilising his condition until the emergency landing.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday, 1 October 2026, publicly thanked Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, for his bravery during a mid-air attack that imperilled hundreds of lives. Herzog also announced his intention to recommend four Israeli civilians for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism — Israel's highest civilian gallantry honour — in recognition of their extraordinary conduct aboard the flight.
What Herzog Said
In a post on X, President Herzog addressed the Indian pilot directly: 'To Captain Smith Machchhar — thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you.' The message underscored the growing international recognition of Captain Machchhar's role in averting the airborne threat.
In a separate statement, Herzog told the four Israeli civilians: 'At a time when the lives of so many people were in danger, you acted without hesitation, with courage, resourcefulness, and extraordinary mutual responsibility. You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society.'
How the Crisis Unfolded
According to accounts of the incident, one of the pilots aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 stabbed Captain Machchhar, causing the aircraft to plummet. Despite being severely injured, the Indian captain fought off the attacker and opened the cockpit door. Passenger Tali Manes, wife of one of the recommended civilians, first raised the alarm that something was gravely wrong.
Three passengers — Yaniv Hayoun, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Rajuan — then rushed to the cockpit, overpowered the attacker, and placed their own lives at serious risk in the process. Hayoun additionally took hold of the aircraft's controls to steady the plane. Once the assailant was subdued, Dr Shota Musayev administered lifesaving medical treatment to the critically wounded Captain Machchhar, helping stabilise his condition until the aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism
President Herzog confirmed he would bring the story of the four Israelis before the advisory committee for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism and formally recommend the award be granted to all four. The honour — Israel's highest civilian award for acts of bravery — is conferred on individuals who risk their own lives to save others in moments of crisis.
The four civilians recommended are: Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Rajuan. Herzog personally spoke with each of them, expressing deep appreciation for their resourcefulness and courage under extreme danger.
Significance for India
Captain Machchhar's conduct has drawn wide attention in India, with the episode highlighting the role of an Indian national in averting what could have been a catastrophic aviation disaster. The Israeli President's direct, public message of gratitude to an Indian pilot — and the decision to recommend the Presidential Award for the Israeli civilians who helped save him — represents a rare moment of cross-border recognition rooted in a shared crisis. Notably, the incident also underscores the vulnerability of civil aviation to in-flight security threats, an issue airlines and regulators across the region will be closely examining.
Captain Machchhar remains under medical care; his full recovery has been wished by President Herzog, while official updates on his condition are awaited.
Point of View
Personalised message to an Indian national — issued on X for global visibility — is not routine diplomatic courtesy; it is calibrated public diplomacy that elevates the episode beyond an aviation incident into a symbol of India-Israel people-to-people ties. What the mainstream narrative is underplaying is the structural aviation-security question: if a co-pilot could stab a captain mid-flight with enough force to send the aircraft into a dive, the cockpit security protocols that were meant to be hardened after 9/11 need urgent scrutiny. The heroism of the four passengers is undeniable, but the fact that civilian intervention was the last line of defence is the more uncomfortable detail here.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot who was commanding flydubai flight FZ1073 when he was stabbed by a fellow crew member mid-flight. Despite severe injuries, he fought off the attacker and helped avert a disaster, earning public thanks from Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
What happened aboard flydubai flight FZ1073?
One of the pilots aboard the flight stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, causing the aircraft to lose altitude sharply. The injured captain fought back and opened the cockpit door, enabling Israeli passengers to overpower the attacker and steady the aircraft before it made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Who are the four civilians recommended for Israel's Presidential Heroism Award?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has recommended Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Zvika Manes, and Asaf Rajuan for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. Hayoun, Manes, and Rajuan overpowered the attacker, while Dr Musayev provided lifesaving medical care to the wounded Indian pilot.
What is the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism?
It is Israel's highest civilian award for acts of bravery, conferred on individuals who risk their own lives to save others in moments of extreme danger. President Herzog must bring the recommendation before an advisory committee before the award is formally granted.
Where did the flydubai flight FZ1073 make an emergency landing?
The aircraft diverted and made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and Dr Shota Musayev stabilised Captain Machchhar's condition. The swift collective action is credited with preventing a far larger catastrophe.
