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 copilot to crash an Israel-bound flight, as he spoke with him over the phone. Captain Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot and seriously injured in the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday while it was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Netanyahu on Saturday spoke to Machchhar, who is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the UAE. A video clip of the call, with the phone in loudspeaker mode, was shared on social media. During the call, Netanyahu also invited the pilot and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day. “It’s our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It’s usually reserved for Israeli citizens, but I think here in this case,all the citizens of Israel will embrace you. So we hope to see you very soon in Israel,” Netanyahu said during his conversation with 38-year-old Machchhar. Israel’s Independence Day, or Yom Ha’atzmaut, is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, which falls in late April or early May.“You are a hero for Israel, India, and the entire world.

 

I invite Prime Minister @NarendraModi and you to light a flame on Israeli Independence Day,” the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel posted on X on Saturday. “I’m amazed at your courage, at your coolness of judgment under impossible conditions,” the Israeli Prime Minister said, adding that what the Captain did was remarkable and that it bordered on the miraculous. He said the pilot had saved more than the lives of those on board. “You saved so many souls. I think you saved something bigger. You saved the spirit of the world to realise that a brave pilot and brave passengers can overcome this evil, however threatening, however violent. It’s something that is being justly hailed around the world,” Netanyahu said. “Please also pass the best regards from me and my wife to your wife. I know you have a family and know that you’re part of the family of nations. You’re part of the family of nations and a heroic part. Please get well as soon as you can,” he said. “Thank you for everything you did,” the Israeli Prime Minister told the pilot. Netanyahu told him he was “amazed” at his courage and his “coolness of judgment under impossible conditions.” “You saved so many souls. I think you saved something bigger. You saved the spirit of the world...It’s something that is being justly hailed around the world. You’re a hero of Israel. You’re a hero of India. You’re a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told Machchhar.