Netanyahu invites Indian Flydubai captain to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured during an attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, to visit Israel as his guest of honour.

Netanyahu extended the invitation during a telephone conversation with Machchhar on Saturday, after the captain helped avert a potential disaster when his co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit. PM News reported that Netanyahu praised the pilot for his actions during the incident.

“You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and you are a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told Machchhar.

The invitation followed comments by UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, who said investigations showed that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist act.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked Machchhar with an emergency axe before attempting to take control of the aircraft.

The flight, carrying 174 people, was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the September 30 incident. Machchhar was injured but later helped open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene. The investigation remains ongoing.