DUBAI — Two additional crew members were honoured by UAE authorities for their actions during a cockpit attack that forced an emergency landing on a flydubai passenger jet last month.
The incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to reports, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly used an emergency axe stored in the cockpit to strike Indian Captain Smit Machchhar repeatedly, causing serious injury and significant blood loss. The aircraft descended rapidly by approximately 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds and sustained rudder damage.
Rowan Tooth of South Africa and Henson Steven of Fiji were travelling as additional crew members on the flight. After the attack, the two entered the cockpit and took control of the damaged Boeing 737, executing a safe emergency landing at a Saudi Arabian airport. Passengers were subsequently transferred to a replacement aircraft for the onward journey to Tel Aviv.
On October 27, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Captain Machchhar, Tooth and Steven in recognition of their actions. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the awards at the ceremony.
Tooth, from Kimberley in South Africa's Northern Cape, previously flew for Airlink before joining flydubai in 2023. He is the son of the late Barry Tooth, a former South African cricketer. Steven previously served with Fiji Airways.
The episode underscores both the severity of the onboard assault and the rapid intervention by additional crew that prevented further catastrophe.
