The September 30 attack left Machchhar with a compound depressed skull fracture after his co-pilot struck him with a crash axe inside the cockpit. Smit Machchhar and his fellow flydubai crew members were awarded the First Class Order of Zayed II, a high-level UAE civilian honour. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Machchhar and fellow crew members.