Congratulations to Fijian pilot Henson Steven for his bravery.
Steven - the FlyDubai pilot and a former Fiji Airways pilot - was one of the reserve pilots travelling on board the FlyDubai plane earlier this month after an attempted hijack, and subsequently took control of the aircraft and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia
He has now been recognized for his brave efforts.
Arab News confirms UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II to the FlyDubai pilot and crew members who helped save passengers during an emergency aboard a flight bound for Israel last month.
The award was given in recognition of their “courage and professionalism in ensuring the safety of passengers and securing the aircraft,” the Emirates News Agency reported.
It was presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who praised the crew’s sense of responsibility during the Sept. 30 incident.
Aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, a co-pilot attacked the aircraft’s Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with a cockpit axe in what UAE prosecutors later described as an attempted “terrorist attack” to crash the plane into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Despite suffering serious injuries, the Indian captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attacker.
Two other FlyDubai pilots including Fijian pilot Henson Steven travelling on board took control of the aircraft and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The plane had plunged thousands of feet during the struggle, but all passengers and crew survived.
Machchhar, who sustained serious injuries during the attack, was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further medical care and recovery.
On October 9th, UAE prosecutors said their investigation had found that the co-pilot intended to carry out a suicide attack inspired by the September 11th 2001, attacks in the US.
Machchhar was hailed as a hero internationally, including from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who commended his courage in preventing a catastrophe and saving lives.
The Indian pilot of the FlyDubai plane who was stabbed by his co-pilot and opened the cockpit door to let others in has said he was determined not to let others die.
