Israel to award Indian pilot Machchhar highest civilian bravery honor after foiling Tel Aviv attack
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Indian captain Smit Machchhar will receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism once he recovers from injuries sustained during a cockpit attack. Machchhar fought off his Omani co-pilot, Hammam Al-Hammami, who attempted to crash a flydubai flight into Tel Aviv. Six Israeli passengers who helped subdue the attacker also received the award in a ceremony on October 8. Investigations continue into security failures that allowed the suspect, previously banned from flying in Oman, to operate the aircraft.