Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said this on Thursday. Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot on a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv last month. The co-pilot allegedly tried to crash the plane.
Herzog said Machchhar’s “sheer bravery and sound professionalism” helped avert a catastrophe. He said it will be his privilege to give the award once the captain regains his strength.
The jet had 174 people on board. It dropped nearly 14,000 ft in less than 30 seconds. A statement from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Machchhar was covered in blood and on the floor when he managed to open the cockpit door. This let passengers and crew overpower the co-pilot. A second pair of flydubai pilots on board then took control. They landed the jet in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES
