World
Fiji and South African Pilots Named for Safely Landing Flydubai Jet After Attack
Two pilots who landed a damaged Flydubai Boeing 737 in Saudi Arabia after an attempted terror attack on board have been identified. Henson Steven of Fiji and Rowan Tooth of South Africa were on the aircraft as extra crew, ready to fly the return leg of the trip, when the co‑pilot turned on the captain in the cockpit on September 30. Their names were announced on Tuesday, October 27, when the United Arab Emirates awarded them its First Class Order of Zayed II. The award was also given to the captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot who was badly injured in the attack.
Steven had previously worked for Fiji Airways. Tooth, who was first reported by South African media, had worked for Airlink before joining Flydubai in 2023. He is the son of former South African cricketer Barry Tooth, who died last year.
Flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when the co‑pilot, Hamam al‑Hammami of Oman, struck Captain Machchhar on the head with an emergency axe kept in the cockpit. The captain was hit several times, lost a great deal of blood and had blurred vision, but he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to enter. Israeli passengers overpowered the co‑pilot and tied him with headphone cables. The Times of Israel reported that the plane fell 16,000 feet (4,900 metres) in 30 seconds and that the rudder was damaged.
Steven and Tooth entered the cockpit, took control, steadied the jet and flew it to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. A replacement aircraft later transported the passengers to Tel Aviv.
The ceremony, held on October 27, was presided over by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, who presented the medals. The First Class Order of Zayed II is one of the highest civilian awards in the UAE and is usually given to diplomats and senior officials. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash praised the crew’s courage and emphasized that protecting human life is the highest duty.
Captain Machchhar attended the ceremony in uniform one month after the attack, with a sling on his left arm and visible scars on his scalp. He estimated that his recovery would take about two more months. The president joked about meeting him for a training session after that, to teach him how to fight, a remark that Machchhar laughed at and said would be an honour.