A Tale of Extraordinary Bravery

When UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on October 27, it brought international attention to the harrowing mid-air ordeal faced by Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar. Serving aboard a Flydubai flight on September 30, Machchhar displayed exemplary courage by protecting 174 passengers during an alleged attack by his co-pilot.

Despite sustaining serious injuries when the co-pilot allegedly lunged at him with a cockpit axe—causing the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds—Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door. This vital action enabled crew members to overpower the assailant, ultimately allowing the aircraft to land safely in western Saudi Arabia. Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum formally presented the awards to Captain Machchhar and his crew in recognition of their heroic intervention.

Preceding Recipients: Strengthening Bilateral Ties

While Captain Machchhar’s recognition stems from spontaneous, life-saving valour in extreme circumstances, he is not the first Indian citizen to receive the distinguished First Class Order of Zayed II. The prestigious civilian decoration has historically been reserved for foreign diplomats, senior officials, and distinguished individuals who have made monumental contributions to the bilateral partnership between India and the United Arab Emirates.

Before Machchhar's recognition, two former Indian ambassadors to the UAE were decorated with the exact same honour for their diplomatic service:

* Navdeep Singh Suri: Serving as India's ambassador to the UAE from December 2016 to September 2019, Suri was awarded the decoration in September 2019. Then UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the honour, acknowledging Suri's pivotal role in deepening bilateral cooperation. * Sunjay Sudhir: Succeeding diplomatic efforts later, Sudhir served as India's ambassador from November 2021 to September 2025. On September 17, 2025, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the honour upon him. Sudhir was specifically recognised for strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing heavily on bilateral economic and educational collaborations.

Understanding the Honour

The First Class Order of Zayed II remains a high-level civilian recognition within the UAE government framework, distinct from the higher-tier Order of Zayed—the nation's highest civilian decoration, which was notably awarded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2019.

Named in honour of the UAE's founding president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the award bridges diplomatic achievement and public service valour, reflecting the deep historic and contemporary ties shared between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.