Pilots Honored for Safely Landing Flydubai Flight After Co-Pilot Attack
Two pilots, Rowan Tooth and Henson Steven, have been recognized for their bravery in safely landing a flydubai flight after a co-pilot attacked the captain with an axe.
Following a violent incident on a flydubai flight, two additional pilots have been honored for their quick actions that ensured the safety of passengers. Rowan Tooth, the son of late South African cricketer Barry Tooth, and Henson Steven from Fiji were part of the crew on Flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. After co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with an axe, the two pilots took control of the damaged Boeing 737 and successfully landed the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE recognized Tooth and Steven for their heroism on October 27, awarding them the First Class Order of Zayed II. Captain Machchhar, who sustained serious injuries during the attack, also received the honor. Rowan Tooth, who joined flydubai in 2023 after working with Airlink, hails from Kimberley, South Africa. Henson Steven previously served with Fiji Airways before his tenure at flydubai.
The incident resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, including a drop of approximately 16,000 feet in just 30 seconds. Following the successful landing, a replacement plane was arranged to transport the passengers to their destination. The awards were presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferring the honors.