UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and fellow flydubai crew members in recognition of their courage, professionalism and commitment to passenger safety during an in-flight terror incident in September which was averted by their bravery and alertness.
The awards were presented by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. Sheikh Hamdan commended the crew members for their actions, praising their sense of responsibility and dedication to their duties. Following the ceremony, the crew members expressed their gratitude to the UAE President for the honour, describing it as a source of pride. The ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. UAE President confers the First Class Order of Zayed II on the flydubai crew members involved in September’s in-flight incident, in recognition of their courageous efforts to ensure the safety of passengers. The honours were presented by Hamdan bin Mohammed, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility.
They said the recognition reflected the leadership’s appreciation of the values of dedication, service and commitment demonstrated by aviation professionals in the discharge of their responsibilities. READ | “Hero To All Of Humanity”, Israel President Writes To Smit Machchhar For the UAE, a major international aviation hub connecting destinations across continents, the recognition also highlights the importance of professionalism and accountability in maintaining public confidence in air travel.
