PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Thursday praised heroic courage and incredible presence of mind by Captain Smit Machchhar. “The nation is proud of Captain Smit Machchhar. His heroic courage and incredible presence of mind have deeply touched us all,” President Murmu said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an event said, “And like Israeli PM (Benjamin Netanyahu) today said that this Indian thwarted 9/11 (like attack). For every Indian, Smit’s bravery fills our heart with pride,” PM Modi said. PM Modi also spoke to the wife and parents of Machchhar. In his telephonic conversation with the pilot’s wife and parents, Modi also stressed that Indian missions are providing all possible help to the injured pilot, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in a post on Xsaid, “Captain Smit Machchhar’s extraordinary courage and remarkable presence of mind, even in the face of grave danger, saved hundreds of lives yesterday and averted a major tragedy. Join the countless voices from across the world in saluting his valour and praying for his speedy recovery.” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he salutes the pilot, the crew, and all who showed extraordinary courage and presence of mind under attack. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised Captain Smit Machchhar as a “true hero” for saving lives during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv despite sustaining serious injuries. “Despite being ghastly injured, the presence of mind and courage shown by Smit during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is exemplary,” the chief minister said. Machchhar, is in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday.

 

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh, in a social media post, said that the pilot is “admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention”. The Flydubai incident is a “terror act,” and would have ended up being a “bigger tragedy” but for the bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, a senior Israel official said on Thursday, hailing him as the “real hero” and appreciating his ability to put his life at risk for the sake of passengers. “But for Machchhar’s bravery, we would have faced a bigger tragedy,” Weitzman said during an online media briefing. “Israel is very, very appreciative of Captain Smit’s very, very brave action. He is a real hero, (had the) ability to put his life at risk... There is very strong sentiment about this,” she said. This was a “terror attack,” but who was behind it and how the co-pilot managed to carry a knife, were being probed, she added. The attack was aimed at “Israeli citizens, Emirates citizens and the other passengers onboard and we don’t know who is behind this.” The motive of the Omani copilot remained unknown A regional official briefed on the investigation said the suspect, an Omani citizen, was under arrest and confirmed that Saudi authorities were working with countries, including Israel, to try to determine a motive. He said the UAE, the United States and Oman also were involved.The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has formally announced that judicial authorities have opened a comprehensive investigation into the mid-air incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israel’s foreign ministry said the people on board were from Israel, India and the UAE. The US State Department said four passengers had American citizenship. FlyDubai has said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended.