{
  "id": 13044431,
  "title": "Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar to receive Israel’s top civilian honour",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-to-receive-israels-top-civilian-honour",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T05:49:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/world/flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-to-receive-israels-top-civilian-honour-1.500704125"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Captain Smit Machchhar, a pilot for Flydubai, is set to receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism following an incident on September 30. Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced the award during a ceremony that also recognized six Israeli passengers who aided in averting what authorities described as a potential hijacking. Herzog commended Machchhar's bravery and professionalism, stating that his actions prevented a catastrophe. The pilot is currently recovering in a hospital in Abu Dhabi after sustaining serious injuries during the mid-air event. Captain Machchhar is making progress under treatment, as confirmed by India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in the UAE, where he remains in close contact with his family, medical team, and local authorities. Six Israeli passengers - Tali Manes, Zvika Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan, and Or Pardilov, were also honored for their roles in the incident. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it safely landed, and all 180 passengers were safely evacuated. It is planned that Machchhar will receive his award once he has fully recovered.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar will receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for his role in an incident aboard a flight on September 30, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced. Herzog made the announcement on Thursday while presenting the same award to six Israeli passengers who helped prevent what Israeli authorities described as an alleged attempt to hijack…",
  "key_points": [
    "Captain Smit Machchhar, Flydubai pilot, to receive Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.",
    "Israeli President Isaac Herzog honored Machchhar for averting potential hijacking incident.",
    "Machchhar injured in mid-air event, recovering in Abu Dhabi hospital."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Israel to honour flydubai's Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with civilian heroism award",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/israel-to-honour-flydubais-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-with-civilian",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:07:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Smit Machchhar to receive top Israeli bravery award for averting flydubai crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/smit-machchhar-to-receive-top-israeli-bravery-award-for-averting",
        "published": "2026-10-09T02:49:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "What a Flydubai pilot’s Hanuman Chalisa recitation says about finding calm in crisis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/what-a-flydubai-pilots-hanuman-chalisa-recitation-says-about-finding",
        "published": "2026-10-09T06:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}