Tel Aviv, Oct 9 – President Isaac Herzog of Israel announced that Indian Captain Smit Machchhar will receive the country’s highest civilian bravery award. The award follows the captain’s actions on September 30, 2026, when he prevented a cockpit attack on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
During a ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, Herzog presented the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to six individuals who were aboard the flight. The recipients – Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov – helped stop a would‑be hijacker from crashing the aircraft. Captain Machchhar, who was stabbed by co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami, is recovering in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates after saving the lives of 172 passengers and crew.
Herzog praised the captain’s “sheer courage and bravery and sound professionalism” and said that once he regains strength, he would be awarded the medal on behalf of the people of Israel. He also highlighted the international cooperation that saved the flight, urging the global community to unite against terror.
Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu have hailed Machchhar as a hero. Herzog noted that the incident came on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks that devastated Israel, and expressed confidence in the investigation led by the United Arab Emirates. The president emphasized that confronting such threats requires foresight, determination, and international partnership.
