31/10/2026
Kimberley pilot honoured after helping foil mid-air terror attack
A South African pilot from the Northern Cape has been awarded one of the UAE’s highest honours for his role in averting a catastrophic attack aboard a FlyDubai flight.
Relief pilot Rowan Tooth, originally from Kimberley, was among the crew of flight FZ1073 on 30 September when the Omani co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit’s emergency axe in a premeditated attempt to crash the Boeing 737 MAX into Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.
The aircraft plunged thousands of feet in under a minute. Despite the chaos, severe G-forces, and damage to the plane, Tooth and a New Zealand colleague forced their way into the cockpit, regained control, stabilised the aircraft, and diverted safely to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. All 182 people on board survived.
This week, Tooth and the rest of the flight and cabin crew received the First Class Order of Zayed II, presented in Abu Dhabi by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Tooth attended Kimberley Junior School and Pretoria Boys’ High School and is the son of the late Barry Tooth, a well-known local sporting figure. His actions have brought huge pride to the Northern Cape and South Africa.
A true hero in the skies.
