New Delhi, Oct. 28 -- The United Arab Emirates has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Indian flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar and fellow crew members for their courageous efforts to protect passengers during a cockpit attack aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. The honour comes amid widespread international praise for Machchhar, whose actions helped avert a potential aviation disaster.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the state honour, which was presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to the Dubai Media Office. Hamdan commended the crew's actions and their sense of responsibility during the emergency.

Machchhar was seriously injur...