UAE Honours 2 Kenyan Cabin Crew After Flydubai Mid-Air Attack

Two Kenyan cabin crew members have been honoured by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for their bravery and efforts to protect passengers during a mid-air emergency aboard a Flydubai aircraft.

David Kimotho and John Muchina received the First Class Order of Zayed II, one of the UAE’s prestigious honours, in recognition of their response to the incident involving Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on September 30.

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The honours were conferred by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a ceremony attended by senior UAE officials.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 28, the Dubai Media Office said the award acknowledged the crew members’ courage and commitment to passenger safety during the emergency.

"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 statement read.

The Dubai Media Office said the ceremony was led by the Crown Prince, who recognised the crew members’ conduct during the incident.

"The honours were presented by Hamdan bin Mohammed, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility," the statement added.

Notably, the attack occurred aboard a Boeing 737 MAX operating Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel, with more than 170 people on board.

According to reports, the aircraft experienced a serious cockpit security incident after a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an emergency axe kept in the cockpit.

The captain sustained serious injuries, including wounds to his head and hands, as the aircraft entered a dangerous descent. 

As the emergency unfolded, Kimotho and Muchina helped attend to the injured captain, assess his condition and keep passengers calm while other crew members and passengers intervened to contain the situation.

Audio from inside the aircraft captured cabin attendants speaking in Swahili as they assessed the captain’s condition. 

One was heard saying, "Cheki kama anaongea, umwongeleshe," meaning, "Check if he is talking; talk to him."

Another instruction, "Mweke huku chini," meaning "Put him down here," was also captured as crew members helped position the injured captain.

An off-duty Flydubai pilot travelling on the aircraft, alongside a cabin crew member and passengers, helped rescue the captain and restrain the suspect. 

A doctor who was also on board provided medical assistance.

The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing those outside to intervene. The pilots subsequently regained control of the aircraft and diverted it to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.