President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan honored the flydubai flight crew with the Order of Zayed II (First Class) on October 27, 2026, following an investigation that revealed the co-pilot attempted a terrorist suicide attack on a September 30 flight.
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and High-Ranking Officials Honor the Crew
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the flydubai flight crew on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, alongside Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. During the reception, the leaders praised the crew for their courage and professionalism during a dangerous incident on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
UAE President confers the First Class Order of Zayed II on the flydubai crew members involved in September’s in-flight incident, in recognition of their courageous efforts to ensure the safety of passengers. The honours were presented by Hamdan bin Mohammed, who commended the… pic.twitter.com/eNrirsChhw
The high level of responsibility they showed in preserving the safety and security of passengers, confirming that preserving human security and safety are the top priority and highest value of the United Arab Emirates.
To recognize their actions, the UAE President granted the Order of Zayed II (First Class) to the crew members. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, personally pinned the medals on the staff.
Federal Prosecution Uncovers a Radicalization Timeline and Hijacking Plot
The high-level honors followed a major update from Federal Attorney-General Counselor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi regarding the September 30 flight. Investigators revealed that the 29-year-old Omani co-pilot initiated a pre-planned terrorist scheme intended to seize control of the commercial airliner.
The plan aimed to direct the aircraft into a suicide crash targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to cause mass casualties. Prosecutors tracking the suspect’s professional and ideological history found that his radicalization began in 2017 during his studies in Australia.
Influenced by takfiri ideas through his reading of extremist literature and his monitoring of electronic content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide operations.
High-Level Officials Attend the Presidential Ceremony
The ceremony drew senior state leadership, highlighting the gravity of the foiled plot and the state’s appreciation for aviation security. Alongside the President, Vice President, and Crown Prince, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, attended the proceedings.
Sheikh Diab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, also joined the officials. During the gathering, the honored crew members expressed their gratitude to the UAE President and voiced deep pride in receiving the prestigious state decoration.
