Mumbai, October 10: In a remarkable display of courage, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machhar has been awarded the State of Israel Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism. The announcement was made by Israeli President Isaac Herzog following a harrowing incident last month on a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. During the flight, Captain Machhar was attacked by his co-pilot, who attempted to crash the aircraft. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Captain Machhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker and safely redirect the plane towards Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, thereby saving the lives of all 174 individuals on board. Initially, the award was intended for Israeli citizens who assisted in the incident, but public outcry led to the recognition of Captain Machhar’s bravery. In honor of his heroism, the Indian postal department in Kerala will issue a special cover, with the announcement made during a ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram on October 9.