Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his colleague with the intention of crashing the plane with over 170 passengers, as a hero.
“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi wrote in an X post. “In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.”
The prime minister also said that Capt Machchhar’s “valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.” — “India is proud of Captain Machchhar.”
“Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed the Indian pilot for his “extraordinary bravery”. l
“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu wrote. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”
A pilot of a jet carrying more than 170 passengers to Tel Aviv stabbed his colleague, Captain Smit Machchhar, and tried to crash the plane.
The catastrophe was narrowly avoided after a passenger and members of crew stormed the cockpit of the FlyDubai plane that had taken off in Dubai and managed to stabilize the jet, after it plunged more than 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) in less than 30 seconds at almost the speed of sound.
The jet later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the attacker, whose identity has not been disclosed, is being questioned by local authorities.
