Netanyahu calls Indian pilot Machchhar 'hero of entire world', invites him, Modi to Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a "hero of the entire world" for thwarting an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash an Israel-bound flight and invited him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a flame at Israel's Independence Day celebrations.
Netanyahu spoke to 38-year-old Machchhar by phone on Saturday as the pilot recovered in a UAE hospital from injuries sustained during the attack in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday.
"It's our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It's usually reserved for Israeli citizens, but I think here in this case, all the citizens of Israel will embrace you," Netanyahu told Machchhar, according to a video of the conversation shared on social media.
"You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world," Netanyahu later posted on X, inviting Machchhar and Modi to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day, or Yom Ha'atzmaut.
During the conversation, Machchhar recounted how the attack unfolded after his Omani co-pilot asked to pray.
"While he was praying, out of respect, I was just looking at the front and not at the back, and suddenly...there was a big blow to the back of my head," Machchhar said.
He initially thought the aircraft had suffered catastrophic damage but soon realised that the co-pilot was attacking him. His vision became blurred as the blows continued.
Machchhar said he then noticed that the aircraft was "sharply going down". Though he managed to open the cockpit door once, the co-pilot shut it again.
He said he made "one last push" to open the door after realising that his life and those of everyone aboard were at stake. Passengers then entered the cockpit and helped overpower the attacker.
The flight, carrying 174 passengers, had transmitted emergency signals and rapidly descended more than 17,000 feet from 34,000 feet before the situation was brought under control. Two reserve pilots subsequently landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
An Omani citizen, Hamam al-Hammami, has been identified in reports as the co-pilot who attacked Machchhar with a crash axe. The motive remains unclear.
The UAE, which is leading the investigation, said its probe had found that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a "terrorist act".
Netanyahu said he was "amazed" by Machchhar's courage and composure under "impossible conditions".
"You saved so many souls," he told the pilot, describing him as a hero of Israel, India and the world.
Machchhar had also spoken to Modi on Friday about the incident. The Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Saturday that he was in stable condition and recovering well.
Netanyahu also met Israeli passengers who helped overpower the attacker and praised their "supreme heroism" after hearing their account of the struggle. The passengers said they tied the co-pilot with a headphone cable after subduing him.
