Hero Pilot Recognized as Global Hero
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar as a true hero to India, Israel and the world during a phone conversation on Saturday. The remarks came after a call in which Netanyahu displayed video of his end of the line, with Machchhar’s voice audible through the speaker.
Netanyahu invited Machchhar to light a celebratory flame at Israel’s next Independence Day. He made the invitation while sharing video of the call, emphasizing the pilot’s bravery.
“I want to invite you and my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to light a celebratory flame on our next Independence Day,” Netanyahu said. “You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and you are a hero of the entire world.”
After wishing Machchhar a speedy recovery, Netanyahu asked for details of what happened aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073. He sought to understand the sequence of events that led to the assault.
Machchhar said the co‑pilot requested to pray, a routine act among local passengers, and Machchhar complied by looking forward. He noted that the request was not unusual.
Four to five minutes later, a sudden blow struck the back of his head, which he initially thought indicated catastrophic aircraft damage. He soon realized the blows came from the co‑pilot seated beside him.
“My first thought was that the plane was suffering catastrophic damage,” Machchhar said. “But the blows kept coming, one after another, and I realized the attacker was the co‑pilot sitting beside me.”
He tried to stop the assailant, but the repeated strikes blurred his vision and made him feel the aircraft dive sharply. The assault left him lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds.
Machchhar attempted to open the cockpit door, only to have it slammed shut by the co‑pilot, while he lay wounded on the floor. He said he mustered his remaining strength to force the door open.
He told Netanyahu that he had one last fight left, pushed with everything he had, and forced the door open. Crew members waiting outside seized control and stabilized the aircraft.
Israeli citizen Yaniv Hayoun stood on the other side of the door. He helped subdue the co‑pilot, then seized the controls and pulled the aircraft out of its dangerous descent.
