UAE President awards Order of Zayed II to flydubai crew for bravery during incident
By Business & Property Desk2 min read
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, has honoured the flydubai crew involved in the FZ1073 incident on 30 September by awarding them the Order of Zayed II, First Class, for their courage and commitment to protecting passengers.
President honours crew with Order of Zayed II
The medal is typically presented to foreign ambassadors, diplomats, senior officials and international figures in recognition of their contributions to public service and the strengthening of ties with the UAE. The crew’s actions during the in-flight incident prompted the exception.
Crown Prince presents medals at ceremony
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, handed over the medals at a ceremony. He commended the crew for their sense of responsibility in ensuring the safety of those on board. Sheikh Hamdan had earlier visited Captain Smit Machchhar on 3 October, just days after the pilot was injured during the cockpit altercation aboard the flight.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, also praised the crew. He described the honour as a recognition of their courage and determination to protect passengers’ lives. “An honorable feat of bravery that affirms that preserving human life is the noblest of duties and the most exalted form of giving,” he said.
Background of the incident
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it was diverted to Saudi Arabia on 30 September.
Co-pilot’s plot revealed
On 9 October, UAE prosecutors said the 29-year-old co-pilot of the flydubai flight FZ1073 had planned to hijack the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, intending to cause mass casualties. According to the UAE Public Prosecution, he attempted to carry out the plot during his third trip to Tel Aviv. Investigators said the suspect had used two previous trips to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the flight route and airport as part of his preparations.
The UAE said on 3 October that investigations revealed the co-pilot launched the attack while the aircraft was in flight, assaulting the pilot inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempting to take control of the aircraft. A crash axe is a safety tool kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, such as breaking through doors or panels.
