Netanyahu calls Indian pilot Machchhar ‘hero of entire world’; invites him, Modi to Israel’s I-Day event

DUBAI: (Oct 4) Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Indian pilot Smit Machchhar a “hero of the entire world” for foiling an alleged attempt by the co-pilot to crash an Israel-bound flight, as he spoke with him over the phone.

Captain Machchhar was attacked and seriously injured by his co-pilot in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu spoke to Machchhar on Saturday, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE. A video clip of the call, with the phone on loudspeaker, was shared on social media.