Herzog thanks FlyDubai captain Smit Machchhar and pledges civilian heroism award

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has written to Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot of a FlyDubai aircraft, to thank him on behalf of the State of Israel for bringing the plane to safety during a flight on September 30, 2026. According to a statement issued by the President's Spokesperson, the letter was sent on Saturday, 10 October 2026, and credited the captain with courage and determination that prevented disaster for those on board.

The statement said Captain Machchhar is still in hospital recovering from injuries, and that he received the letter there. Herzog wished him a complete and quick recovery and invited him to Jerusalem when he is well enough to travel. The President also repeated his intention to give the pilot the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism once he has recovered.

What the letter says

In the letter, Herzog praised the pilot's calm under serious danger. He wrote that the captain had found the strength to "rise above the pain", to deal with a direct threat to his own life, and to keep his judgment sound, which the President described as evidence of strong character and great valour.

Herzog closed by noting that the captain was being treated in the United Arab Emirates, which he called a friend and partner of Israel, and by saying he looked forward to expressing the gratitude of the Israeli public in person in Jerusalem.

The six Israeli passengers already honoured

The President's office said that earlier in the same week Herzog held a ceremony recognising six Israeli citizens who were aboard the flight, presenting each of them with the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. It was at that ceremony that he first announced the plan to give the same award to Captain Machchhar after his recovery. The statement does not name the six passengers or describe what each of them did.

Who the President is and what the award means

Israel's president is the head of state. The role is largely ceremonial and separate from the prime minister, who leads the government. Part of the office's function is to represent the country symbolically, including by recognising acts of bravery by civilians. The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism is one such honour, granted by the President in the name of the state. The government page that carried the announcement filed it under the topic of terrorism.

An appeal to India and Israel's shared history

Captain Machchhar is Indian, and Herzog framed his actions as part of the relationship between India and Israel. The letter refers to Indian soldiers who, more than 100 years ago, fought to free cities in the Holy Land and so became part of Israel's history. Herzog told the captain that he too would now be "a treasured part of our people's history" and said his actions would deepen the ties between the Republic of India and the State of Israel. The statement does not name the cities or the campaign the President had in mind.

The letter therefore touches three countries: an Indian pilot flying for FlyDubai, an airline based in the United Arab Emirates, receiving thanks from Israel's head of state while being treated in the Emirates. Herzog's description of the UAE as a partner reflects the diplomatic relations the two countries now maintain.

What the reports do not say

This account rests on a single source, an official release from the President's office, and that release leaves much unexplained. It does not say what happened on board the flight on September 30, what the threat to the aircraft was, or who was responsible. Although the page is filed under terrorism, the statement does not itself describe an attack or name any attacker.

It does not give the flight's route, its departure or arrival points, or how many people were on board. It does not explain how Captain Machchhar was hurt, how serious his injuries are, or which hospital is treating him beyond placing it in the United Arab Emirates. It gives no account from FlyDubai, from the captain, from the six Israeli passengers or from Indian or Emirati authorities. No date has been set for the award or for the visit to Jerusalem.