Russian pilot who saved 233 passengers in 'miracle' landing speaks out: 'I didn't feel any fear'

The Russian pilot who saved 233 passengers after a flock of birds flew into both of his plane's engines has now received his nation's highest medal, according to the Associated Press.

Ural Airlines captain Damir Yusupov was taking off from Moscow's Zhukovsky International Airport Thursday when a group of seagulls collided with the plane. The 41-year-old pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a nearby cornfield, safely bringing the plane down with zero casualties.

Though several dozen people aboard Yusupov's flight reported mild injuries, only one required hospitalization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Yusupov the Hero of Russia medal on Friday, praising his heroics in what state media has referred to as a "miracle" landing. Twenty-three-year-old co-pilot Georgy Murzin received the same award.

Yusupov spoke to Russian TV about the incident, but he said the accolades were somewhat embarrassing.

"It feels odd and I'm shy," he said.

RELATED: Scenes from the emergency landing outside of Moscow

"I didn't feel any fear," Yusupov told reporters in a televised interview Friday. "I saw a cornfield ahead and hoped to make a reasonably soft landing. I tried to lower vertical speed to make the plane land as smoothly as possible and glide softly."

The pilot, who has logged more than 3,000 hours of flight experience in his career, praised his cabin crew for their help. He also apologized to his passengers for failing to reach their intended destination — the city of Simferopol on the Crimean Peninsula.

"I wish a quick recovery to all those injured and I wish them not to be afraid of flying," Yusupov said.

The landing, which has been dubbed the "Miracle Over Ramensk," has been compared to the 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson," in which U.S. Airways captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger saved ever passenger aboard a flight carrying 155 people.