Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday (October 3, 2026) invited to Israel the Indian captain of the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight who saved the aircraft after a mid-air cockpit attack, describing him as a hero of India, Israel and the world.
Speaking to Captain Smit Machchhar over a telephone call, excerpts of which were released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Mr Netanyahu invited both the pilot and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day ceremony next May. The honour is traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens, but Mr Netanyahu said the occasion warranted an exception.
"You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel and you are a hero of the entire world," Mr Netanyahu told the hospitalised captain in the video of their conversation.
Machchhar recounts the attack
During the call, Mr Machchhar gave a dramatic account of how the September 30 attack unfolded aboard flight FZ1073. He said his co-pilot had asked for time to pray, and that, out of respect, he looked toward the front of the cockpit rather than behind him. Minutes later, he felt a powerful blow to the back of his head.
"My first thought was that there was catastrophic damage to the aircraft and something is not right. But then after that the blows kept coming one after the other. That's when I realised that it's not the aircraft, it's the other guy who was in the cockpit with me," Mr Machchhar said.
He told Mr Netanyahu that his memory of the sequence was not entirely clear because of his injury, but that he managed to pull the cockpit door open despite his wounds, allowing others to intervene. "I had that one last fight left in me," he said, describing how he knew he faced certain death if he did not act.
UAE: co-pilot planned 'terrorist act'
UAE investigators have said the co-pilot planned the "terrorist act" by attacking Mr Machchhar with an axe, according to a statement from the prosecutor general carried by state media. The Omani co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami. Mr Machchhar remains hospitalised in the United Arab Emirates.
The invitation caps a week of honours for the captain, whose actions during the crisis have drawn praise from leaders in India and Israel.
Sources:
- The Hindu — "Netanyahu invites 'true hero' Indian flydubai captain to Israel"
- NDTV — "'Hero To Entire World': Netanyahu Invites flydubai Hero To Israel Independence Day Event"
Speaking to Captain Smit Machchhar over a telephone call, excerpts of which were released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Mr Netanyahu invited both the pilot and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day ceremony next May. The honour is traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens, but Mr Netanyahu said the occasion warranted an exception.
"You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel and you are a hero of the entire world," Mr Netanyahu told the hospitalised captain in the video of their conversation.
Machchhar recounts the attack
During the call, Mr Machchhar gave a dramatic account of how the September 30 attack unfolded aboard flight FZ1073. He said his co-pilot had asked for time to pray, and that, out of respect, he looked toward the front of the cockpit rather than behind him. Minutes later, he felt a powerful blow to the back of his head.
"My first thought was that there was catastrophic damage to the aircraft and something is not right. But then after that the blows kept coming one after the other. That's when I realised that it's not the aircraft, it's the other guy who was in the cockpit with me," Mr Machchhar said.
He told Mr Netanyahu that his memory of the sequence was not entirely clear because of his injury, but that he managed to pull the cockpit door open despite his wounds, allowing others to intervene. "I had that one last fight left in me," he said, describing how he knew he faced certain death if he did not act.
UAE: co-pilot planned 'terrorist act'
UAE investigators have said the co-pilot planned the "terrorist act" by attacking Mr Machchhar with an axe, according to a statement from the prosecutor general carried by state media. The Omani co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami. Mr Machchhar remains hospitalised in the United Arab Emirates.
The invitation caps a week of honours for the captain, whose actions during the crisis have drawn praise from leaders in India and Israel.
Sources:
- The Hindu — "Netanyahu invites 'true hero' Indian flydubai captain to Israel"
- NDTV — "'Hero To Entire World': Netanyahu Invites flydubai Hero To Israel Independence Day Event"
