Two pilots identified in Flydubai cockpit incident

The identities of two pilots who took control of a damaged Flydubai aircraft and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia have been officially revealed. Henson Steven of Fiji and Rowan Tooth of South Africa were identified following a ceremony where they, along with Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, received civilian honors from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The incident occurred on September 30, when co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Machchhar with an emergency axe inside the cockpit. Machchhar suffered severe head injuries and struggled with blurred vision but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

Israeli passengers overpowered the attacker and restrained him using headphone cables. Steven and Tooth, who were traveling as additional pilots, entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft. They stabilized the damaged Boeing 737 and diverted it to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

The attack caused significant damage to the plane, including tail damage, and resulted in a dramatic loss of altitude. The combined efforts of Machchhar, the Israeli passengers, and the two additional pilots prevented a potential mass-casualty disaster.

Machchhar, who attended the ceremony in uniform, was still recovering from his injuries, which included a left arm in a sling and fresh scars on his scalp. During the ceremony, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed inquired about his recovery time and humorously suggested a future training session.

The three pilots were awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II, a prestigious UAE civilian honor typically reserved for diplomats and senior officials. The medals were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.