ABU DHABI – In a solemn ceremony at the presidential council in Abu Dhabi, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II upon the courageous flight and cabin crew of flydubai flight FZ1073.

The high national honour recognises the crew’s extraordinary bravery, swift action, and professionalism during a life-threatening mid-air crisis on 30 September.

The medals were officially presented on 27 October by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

Among the celebrated aviation professionals honoured for preventing an unprecedented catastrophe was the relief pilot Rowan Tooth from South Africa.

ALSO READ: WATCH | UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning ‘terrorist act’

Hailing from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, Tooth attended Kimberley Junior School after which he went to Pretoria Boys’ High School, an informed source told NovaNews. According to the source, the pilot is the son of the late Barry Tooth, a renowned Kimberley and Griquas sporting icon, bringing immense local pride to his hometown and the broader South African sports and aviation communities.

Mid-air terrorist threat and 17 000-foot plunge

The awards follow the harrowing events of 30 September aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

During the flight, the 29-year-old co-pilot launched a premeditated terrorist attack inside the cockpit, striking the aircraft’s captain, Captain Smit Machchhar, with a cockpit axe in an attempt to crash the airliner into Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.

The assault caused the aircraft to enter a steep, chaotic dive, plunging approximately 17 000 feet in under a minute. Despite sustaining severe head injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlatch the reinforced cockpit door before collapsing. Cabin crew and passengers, including an Israeli passenger who placed the attacker in a headlock, braved extreme G-forces to rush to the cockpit, overpower the assailant, and restrain him.

‘Superhuman strength’: Relief pilots’ heroic intervention

With the primary captain incapacitated and the aircraft travelling at near-critical speed with tail fin damage, two off-duty relief pilots travelling on board entered the flight deck.

Displaying what aviation safety experts described as “superhuman strength and composure in the midst of hysteria,” Tooth and a fellow relief pilot, who is a New Zealander, took control of the diving jet. Fighting severe gravitational forces and extreme physical obstacles inside the cockpit, the duo stabilised the Boeing 737 MAX, levelled its flight path, and safely executed an emergency diversion to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. All 182 persons on board survived without loss of life.

State commendation and national recognition

Speaking at the Abu Dhabi ceremony, UAE leaders reaffirmed that protecting human life and securing safety remain the country’s highest priority.

“The high level of responsibility demonstrated by the crew in safeguarding passengers reflects the core values of dedication, courage, and service,” stated Sheikh Hamdan during the presentation.

The ceremony was attended by prominent UAE state dignitaries, including Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai Airports), Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (First Deputy Ruler of Dubai), Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Minister of Interior), and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan (Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence).

International leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, have also praised the crew’s heroic actions, with Israel announcing plans to confer its presidential award for civilian heroism on Captain Machchhar following his medical recovery.

Sources:

• Arab News – “UAE President honours flydubai pilot, crew for saving passengers during attempted hijacking”;
• The National – “President honours flydubai crew for courage during September 30 mid-air attack”;
• Gulf News / WAM – “UAE President Awards Zayed Medal to flydubai crew for Heroic Efforts”;
• NDTV – (New Delhi Television) is a major Indian news television network and digital news publisher headquartered in New Delhi, India