Israeli leaders hails Indian pilot as hero

Israeli leaders have hailed Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, as a “hero” for thwarting an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a flydubai flight carrying nearly 180 people, and wished him a speedy recovery.
Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, on Wednesday.

“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker - preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, hailing him as a “true hero”. “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said, adding that he saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.

“I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero.”
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, safely landed in Saudi Arabia, where authorities took the co-pilot into custody. Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Machchhar, who, he said, “with his last strength, opened the cockpit door and enabled the neutralisation of the terrorist”.

“To Captain Smith Machchhar - thank you from the bottom of my heart for the bravery, determination, and actions that saved many lives. I wish you a full recovery and strong health. The State of Israel extends immense gratitude to you,” he said in a post on X.

Herzog also announced that he will recommend awarding the ‘President’s Medal for Civilian Bravery’ to four flight passengers who “displayed extraordinary courage in an 
impossible situation”.