Israel to honor flydubai pilot who thwarted hijacking attempt...

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will present Captain Smit Machchhar, pilot of Flydubai Flight 1073, with the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. Machchhar was seriously injured when his co-pilot attacked him and tried to seize the aircraft on September 30, 2026, but he opened the cockpit door so passengers and crew could subdue the attacker.

The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Herzog stated that he would personally award the Indian captain once he recovers and sent an official letter thanking him for preventing a disaster.