Piyush Goyal hails Captain Smit Machchhar's UAE top bravery honour
Synopsis
An Indian Flydubai pilot who foiled a mid-air terror attack — badly wounded but still managing to open the cockpit door so the co-pilot could be overpowered — has now received the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II, one of the Gulf nation's highest civil decorations. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's public congratulations have amplified the story, turning Captain Smit Machchhar into a symbol of duty and valour celebrated across both countries.
Key Takeaways
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal congratulated Captain Smit Machchhar on 28 October 2026 via a post on X.
Captain Machchhar and the Flydubai crew were awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II , a top UAE civil decoration.
The award was presented by UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum .
On 30 September , Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv .
Despite being badly wounded, Machchhar opened the cockpit door, allowing the co-pilot to be overpowered and the aircraft saved.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, congratulated Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar after the Indian aviator was conferred the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II — one of the Gulf nation's most prestigious civil decorations — for his extraordinary act of bravery in thwarting a terrorist co-pilot and preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
The Honour and What It Recognises
The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates, awarded by the UAE President to honour individuals for distinguished service, courage, or contributions to bilateral and international relations. The award was presented by UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who commended the crew's actions and sense of responsibility.
The UAE President, in the presence of Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, received the crew members and praised their courage and professionalism in ensuring passenger safety and securing the aircraft. The UAE leadership affirmed that protecting public safety remains a top national priority.
What Goyal Said
In a post on X, Minister Goyal wrote: 'Proud to see Captain Smit Machchhar and the Flydubai crew honoured with the UAE's prestigious First Class Order of Zayed II, presented by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.' Hailing Machchhar as 'a hero celebrated across skies,' the minister added: 'Captain Smit and his team embody the true spirit of duty, precision and valour, making us all proud. Heartiest congratulations to him and the entire crew on this well-deserved honour!'
The Incident on Flight FZ1073
On 30 September, Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot while commanding Flydubai flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Severely wounded during the assault, Machchhar reportedly retained the presence of mind to open the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to overpower the co-pilot and regain control of the aircraft. The intervention is credited with preventing a mass-casualty disaster.
Crew's Response and Wider Significance
The crew members expressed gratitude to the UAE President and pride in receiving the honour, describing it as recognition of their service, dedication, and commitment. Notably, the recognition of an Indian national by the UAE at this level underscores the deep bilateral ties between the two countries, with the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf adding a layer of national pride to the moment. This is among the highest-profile instances of an Indian aviator receiving a UAE state decoration in recent years.
As the story continues to resonate across aviation and diplomatic circles, the UAE's decision to publicly honour the crew sends a clear signal on how the Gulf nation treats acts of civil courage in the skies.
Point of View
Bilateral diplomacy, and individual heroism — yet mainstream coverage risks flattening it into a feel-good moment. The harder questions linger: how did the co-pilot pass pre-flight screening? What does a mid-air cockpit attack on a Dubai-Tel Aviv route reveal about threat vectors in commercial aviation? India's external affairs apparatus has been conspicuously quiet; the recognition came from the UAE side first, with Minister Goyal's congratulations following. The episode also quietly reaffirms the strategic depth of India-UAE ties — the public honouring of an Indian national at a UAE state ceremony is a diplomatic signal as much as it is a humanitarian one.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Smit Machchhar and why was he honoured?
Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian pilot flying for Flydubai who was honoured with the UAE's First Class Order of Zayed II for foiling a mid-air terror attack. On 30 September, he was attacked by his co-pilot aboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv but, despite serious wounds, opened the cockpit door to allow the crew and passengers to overpower the attacker and save the aircraft.
What is the First Class Order of Zayed II?
The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates, conferred by the UAE President to recognise distinguished service, courage, or contributions to bilateral and international relations. It is among the most prestigious honours the UAE can bestow on individuals.
What happened on Flydubai flight FZ1073?
On 30 September, the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, attacked Captain Smit Machchhar in the cockpit. Badly wounded, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling other crew members and passengers to overpower the co-pilot and retake control of the aircraft, averting a potential disaster.
What did Minister Piyush Goyal say about Captain Machchhar?
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal posted on X calling Machchhar 'a hero celebrated across skies' and said that 'Captain Smit and his team embody the true spirit of duty, precision and valour.' He extended heartiest congratulations to Machchhar and the entire Flydubai crew.
Who presented the award to the Flydubai crew?
The award was presented by UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE President also personally received the crew members, alongside Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, praising their courage and professionalism.
