You're a hero: PM Netanyahu invites hero flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar to Israel

During the conversation with Netanyahu, he also recounted how he opened the cockpit door during the attack, allowing passengers to intervene.

In Short

• Netanyahu invites Machchhar to light torch on Israel’s Independence Day
• Machchhar recounts cockpit attack by Omani co-pilot to Netanyahu
• Co-pilot prayed before attacking, Machchhar says he showed restraint

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken to Indian flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and invited him to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, praising his courage during the cockpit attack.

“You are a hero for Israel, India and the entire world. I invite you to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony,” Netanyahu told him.

A video of the interaction was posted on X by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office.

Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi after being severely injured by his Omani co-pilot aboard Wednesday’s Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. During the conversation, he recounted how he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to intervene.

‘I REALISED I HAD ONE MORE CHANCE’

“The co-pilot stood up to pray, and out of respect for him, I didn’t look back,” Machchhar said.

“A few minutes later, I felt a strong impact and thought something had happened to the plane. But then I was hit again and realised it was him,” he added.

Machchhar said he opened the cockpit door, but the co-pilot closed it and he fell to the floor. “I realised I had one more chance. When I opened it again, I saw people waiting to rush inside,” he said.

Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot. Reserve pilots aboard flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 passengers, then landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar received initial treatment in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi. He was reported to be in stable condition.

UAE CALLS INCIDENT A TERRORIST ATTACK

The UAE Attorney General on Saturday described the incident as a “terrorist attack”, saying the co-pilot struck Machchhar with the aircraft’s crash axe before trying to take control of the plane.

Al Arabiya identified the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Three people familiar with the investigation also confirmed his identity to the Associated Press.

AP reported that Oman had previously barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

He was later hired by flydubai, though it remains unclear what the airline knew about his removal from flying duties or how extensively he was vetted.

PM MODI, UAE LEADERS PRAISE PILOT

PM Narendra Modi spoke to Machchhar by video call on Friday, praising his quick decisions and wishing him a speedy recovery.

“You have taken so many decisions in a fraction of a second. And you have saved the lives of so many people,” PM Modi told him.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum visited Machchhar in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

He conveyed the UAE leadership’s appreciation, saying the pilot had shown “the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life”.

- Ends