Captain Smit Machchhar Receives Prestigious UAE Award

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who bravely confronted an attack by his co-pilot aboard a flydubai aircraft and helped save the lives of 204 passengers, has received a prestigious award from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The award was presented to him on October 22. The other crew members of the same aircraft were also honoured alongside Captain Smit Machchhar.

The crew members received the Fifth Class Order of Zayed II award. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, among others, presented the awards in recognition of their courage and extraordinary service.

Attack on a Dubai-Chennai Flight

It may be recalled that on September 30, Captain Smit Machchhar was travelling aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Chennai, accompanied by an Omani co-pilot. While the aircraft was in mid-air, the Omani co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar.

Despite suffering serious injuries in the attack, Captain Smit Machchhar did not give up. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene and restrain the attacking co-pilot.

As a result, the aircraft was able to land safely in Saudi Arabia. His courage and determination played an important role in helping prevent a potentially serious incident and protecting the passengers and crew on board.

UAE Honours Captain Smit Machchhar

In recognition of this extraordinary act of bravery, Captain Smit Machchhar and the other crew members were honoured by the UAE. The award recognises their courage, professionalism and efforts to protect the lives of passengers during a serious in-flight incident.

However, Captain Smit Machchhar is not the first Indian to receive this distinction. Two other Indians had received the honour before him for their contributions to strengthening relations between India and the UAE.

Navdeep Singh Suri Received the Honour in 2019

Navdeep Singh Suri, a former Indian ambassador to the UAE, served in the position from December 2016 to September 2019. In recognition of his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations between India and the UAE, he received the honour on September 11, 2019.

His diplomatic efforts helped strengthen cooperation and ties between the two countries. India and the UAE maintain important partnerships across several areas, including trade, investment and diplomacy.

Sanjay Sudhir Received the Award in 2025

Similarly, Sanjay Sudhir also served as India’s ambassador to the UAE. He held the position from November 2021 to September 2025. During his tenure, he contributed to strengthening economic, educational and commercial ties between India and the UAE.

In recognition of these contributions, Sanjay Sudhir received the same award on September 12, 2025.

Recognition of Courage and Professionalism

The recognition of Captain Smit Machchhar highlights the importance of courage, professionalism and teamwork in aviation. Pilots and cabin crew members are responsible for ensuring passenger safety, particularly during unexpected emergencies. The actions of the flight crew demonstrated the importance of remaining determined and responding effectively under pressure.

The UAE’s decision to honour Captain Smit Machchhar and the other crew members also reflects the importance of recognising individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery and dedication to their responsibilities. Their actions have drawn attention to the vital role aviation professionals play in protecting passengers and maintaining flight safety.