Flydubai Pilots Honored for Heroic Actions During In-Flight Attack
Henson Steven and Rowan Tooth, who safely landed a Flydubai flight after a co-pilot's violent attack, were honored alongside their injured colleague Smit Machchhar at a ceremony in the UAE.
The identities of the two pilots who successfully landed a Flydubai flight after a violent in-flight attack have been revealed. Henson Steven from Fiji and Rowan Tooth from South Africa were recognized for their bravery during a ceremony where they received the First Class Order of Zayed II, one of the UAE's highest civilian honors, alongside Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured in the incident.
The attack occurred on September 30 when co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami assaulted Machchhar with an axe. Despite sustaining severe head injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene. Israeli passengers helped subdue the attacker, enabling Steven and Tooth, who were on board for the return flight, to take control of the aircraft and land it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
UAE officials praised the pilots for their extraordinary actions. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, stated that the award was a national recognition of their courage and composure in protecting the lives of passengers. The ceremony highlighted the severity of Machchhar's injuries, with visible scars serving as a reminder of the harrowing incident.