Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken by phone with Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who is recovering after being seriously injured during a violent cockpit attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv.
During the telephone conversation, Netanyahu asked Machchhar to describe how the incident began and how he managed to open the cockpit door despite being badly injured. The Israeli prime minister praised the Indian captain’s courage and described him as a hero of India, Israel and the wider world.
Netanyahu also extended a special invitation to Machchhar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Israel’s next Independence Day celebrations by lighting a ceremonial flame.
The phone call came only days after Flight FZ1073 was forced into an emergency situation when the co-pilot attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit. The captain was seriously injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing people outside to enter and help stop the attacker. The aircraft later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 174 passengers safe.
Netanyahu Calls Captain Smit Machchhar by Phone
The conversation between Netanyahu and Machchhar took place while the Indian pilot was recovering from his injuries.
Netanyahu began by asking about his condition and wishing him a full recovery. He then turned to the extraordinary events that had unfolded aboard the Flydubai flight.
The Israeli prime minister wanted to hear directly from the captain how the emergency had started and what happened inside the cockpit during those critical moments.
Rather than simply receiving an official account of the incident, Netanyahu asked Machchhar to explain the sequence of events in his own words.
The captain described how the flight had initially been completely normal before the situation suddenly changed.
The conversation was released publicly by Netanyahu’s office and provided a rare first-person account of the cockpit attack.
Captain Smit Describes the Moment the Attack Began
Machchhar told Netanyahu that there was nothing unusual about the flight in its early stages.
According to the captain, the co-pilot had indicated that he wanted to pray. Machchhar said he did not consider the request unusual and, out of respect, continued looking toward the front rather than watching what was happening behind him.
Several minutes later, everything changed.
Machchhar recalled suddenly receiving a heavy blow to the back of his head.
His first thought was that something catastrophic might have happened to the aircraft.
But when further blows followed, he realized that the danger was not coming from the aircraft itself.
It was the other person inside the cockpit.
The attack left the captain’s vision severely blurred. He told Netanyahu that his memory of some moments remains incomplete because of the injuries he suffered.
At the same time, he realized that the aircraft was descending sharply.
The situation had become a fight for control of both the cockpit and the aircraft.
The Critical Fight to Open the Cockpit Door
One of the most important parts of Machchhar’s account involved the cockpit door.
The captain told Netanyahu that he attempted to open the door but that the attacker closed it again.
At that point, Machchhar was seriously injured and struggling with impaired vision.
He understood that opening the door could give people outside the cockpit an opportunity to intervene.
Machchhar described reaching a point where he felt he had one final opportunity to act.
He pushed himself toward the door despite his condition and managed to reach the internal opening mechanism.
The captain explained to Netanyahu that the cockpit door had a manual mechanism from inside, while people outside were trying to gain access through the external procedure.
Eventually, Machchhar managed to twist the internal mechanism and open the door.
That brief moment became decisive.
People waiting outside were then able to move into the cockpit and help confront the attacker.
Passengers and Other Pilots Helped Regain Control
Machchhar’s effort to open the door was followed by intervention from people outside the cockpit.
Passengers and crew members moved in to help restrain the attacker.
Other pilots who were on board also became involved in the emergency response.
The aircraft had already experienced a dangerous descent, but the intervention prevented the situation from becoming a much larger disaster.
The flight was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, all of whom were ultimately reported safe. Machchhar received medical treatment after the landing and was later transferred for further care.
The incident has since attracted international attention because of the captain’s actions and the coordinated response by passengers, crew members and other pilots.
Netanyahu Praises Machchhar’s Courage
After hearing the captain’s account, Netanyahu expressed his admiration for Machchhar.
The Israeli prime minister told him that he was amazed by his courage and ability to make decisions under extremely difficult conditions.
Netanyahu said Machchhar had helped save many lives and described him as a hero of Israel, India and the entire world.
He also acknowledged the people who helped after the cockpit door was opened.
The Israeli leader said the incident demonstrated how courageous actions by individuals can make a difference during an extreme emergency.
He wished Machchhar a speedy and complete recovery and also sent his regards to the pilot’s wife and family.
Netanyahu Invites Captain Smit and PM Modi to Israel
The most significant diplomatic moment of the telephone conversation came when Netanyahu extended an invitation to Captain Smit Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Netanyahu referred to Modi as a great friend and said he wanted both Modi and Machchhar to participate in Israel’s next Independence Day ceremony.
He specifically proposed that the two take part in the lighting of a celebratory flame.
Netanyahu described the ceremony as one of Israel’s highest Independence Day honours and said the recognition is normally associated with Israeli citizens.
However, he said he wanted Machchhar to be included because of what happened during the flight and because of the courage he demonstrated during the emergency.
The invitation therefore goes beyond the aviation incident itself and places Machchhar’s story within a broader India-Israel context.
Modi and Netanyahu Both Recognize Machchhar’s Actions
Netanyahu’s phone call followed a separate conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Captain Machchhar.
Modi had also spoken with the injured pilot and praised the decisions he made during the emergency.
The Indian prime minister told Machchhar that his actions had helped save the lives of people on board and wished him a speedy recovery.
The two conversations have brought significant attention to Machchhar’s role in the incident.
While Modi spoke to the pilot as India’s prime minister, Netanyahu’s conversation also highlighted the connection between the Indian captain and the Israeli passengers who were travelling on the flight.
The proposed Independence Day invitation adds another dimension to the story, bringing together the Indian pilot and the Indian prime minister at a potential Israeli national ceremony.
The Flydubai Flight Incident Is Still Under Investigation
The events aboard Flight FZ1073 remain under investigation by authorities.
The aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot attacked Machchhar.
UAE authorities have described the incident as a terrorist attack, while investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the assault and the co-pilot’s background.
The co-pilot has been identified in current reporting as an Omani national. Authorities are examining what led to the attack and whether there were warning signs before the flight.
The investigation is also expected to examine aviation security procedures and how the attacker was able to launch the assault inside the cockpit.
For aviation authorities, the incident raises difficult questions about cockpit safety and the risks that can emerge from within the flight deck itself.
A Flight That Changed Within Minutes
The story of Flight FZ1073 began like an ordinary international journey.
Within minutes, however, the situation inside the cockpit became a life-threatening emergency.
Machchhar was seriously injured and temporarily lost much of his vision, yet he understood that opening the cockpit door could provide the opportunity needed for others to intervene.
His decision to make another attempt ultimately allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit.
Other people then helped restrain the attacker while the aircraft was brought safely under control.
That sequence of events is now at the centre of international attention.
What Did Netanyahu Say to Captain Smit Machchhar?
During the phone call, Netanyahu praised Machchhar’s courage, asked him about the cockpit attack and wished him a full recovery. He described the Indian pilot as a hero of India, Israel and the wider world.
Did Netanyahu Speak to Captain Smit by Phone?
Yes. Netanyahu spoke directly with Machchhar by telephone while the Indian pilot was recovering from his injuries. A video of the conversation was subsequently released by Netanyahu’s office.
What Invitation Did Netanyahu Give to Captain Smit and PM Modi?
Netanyahu invited Captain Smit Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Israel’s next Independence Day ceremony and said he wanted them to light a celebratory flame together.
Conclusion
Benjamin Netanyahu’s telephone conversation with Captain Smit Machchhar has brought a personal dimension to the dramatic Flydubai cockpit incident.
During the call, the Israeli prime minister heard directly from the injured captain about how the attack began, how the aircraft went into a dangerous descent and how Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries.
Netanyahu’s praise also highlighted the role of the passengers, crew members and other pilots who helped regain control of the aircraft.
The proposed invitation for Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Israel’s Independence Day ceremony adds another significant chapter to the story.
For now, Machchhar’s priority remains recovery while authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.
What happened aboard Flight FZ1073 is still being examined, but the captain’s account makes clear how quickly an ordinary flight turned into a critical fight to protect everyone on board.
According To NEWS18