Captain Smit Machchhar to get Israel civilian heroism award after flight ordeal

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has invited Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel to honour him with the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism after he was injured while trying to stop his co-pilot from allegedly attempting to hijack a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, his office said on Saturday.

Machchhar, an Indian national, was hurt during the mid-air incident on September 30. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Despite being seriously injured, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and avert a possible catastrophe. All passengers reached Israel safely later that day.

"Once Captain Machchhar regains strength, it will be my honour to award him, on behalf of the people of Israel, the State of Israel's Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism," a statement from the President's office quoted Herzog as saying. The honour for Machchhar would be a rare distinction for a non-Israeli. Herzog announced the decision earlier this week at a ceremony honouring six Israeli citizens who were on board the flight with the same award.

In a letter dated October 4, Herzog expressed "deep gratitude" for Machchhar's "exceptional courage and determination" in steering the flydubai aircraft to safety and averting a "catastrophe". "While the unfolding of events reads like a thriller, one can only imagine the true sense of terror and grave urgency that overwhelmed the cockpit as you struggled midair for your very being," he wrote. The letter did not mention the President's intention to confer the award on him.

Machchhar received the letter while recovering in hospital, the press statement said, attaching photographs of the pilot reading it. Praising his composure in the face of grave danger, Herzog wrote that his "ability to find the strength to rise above the pain, to combat the immediate threat to your life, and to operate sound judgment demonstrates the strength of your character and the great valour you possess". He also wished Machchhar a full and speedy recovery and invited him to visit Jerusalem once he had regained his strength.

Herzog also referred to the historic ties between India and Israel, recalling the role of Indian troops in liberating the northern Israeli city of Haifa from Ottoman forces on September 23, 1918. "Your heroics place you in the distinguished ranks of Indian troops, who risked their lives over 100 years ago to liberate cities in the Holy Land, forever becoming a part of Israel's history. You too, Captain Machchhar, will henceforth be a treasured part of our people's history, further amplifying the warmth and connection between the Republic of India and the State of Israel," he wrote. "As you slowly begin your journey towards healing, I know that you are in the very best hands of our dear friends and partners in the United Arab Emirates. We all share heartfelt prayers for your full and speedy recovery, and I look forward, once you have regained strength, to welcoming you to Jerusalem and expressing the appreciation and the love of our grateful nation," he said.

The statement said posters featuring Machchhar had appeared along major highways and at prominent locations across Israel, with people expressing gratitude for his bravery in saving around 180 Israeli lives. It also said members of the Indian community in Israel had received a warm response after the incident, with Indian students at universities reporting that campus cafeterias offered them discounts and treated them warmly the next day. The invitation and the proposed award underline the recognition Israel has given Machchhar for his role in helping bring the flight's passengers to safety.

With PTI Inputs

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