Machchhar is in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia.
By Shula Rosen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised seriously injured Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar as a “true hero” after he fought back against an attacker aboard a Flydubai flight and helped prevent what Netanyahu described as a disaster on the scale of September 11.
In an interview with CNN, Netanyahu compared the potential catastrophe to the US terror attack in which terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the Twin Towers in New York, killing nearly 3,000 people. He said Machchhar “managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster.”
Netanyahu also posted on X: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. 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.”
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero,” the premier said.
Dentist Shota Musaev, a passenger who helped treat Machchhar, told CNN that the pilot had suffered “massive blood loss” and was “severely wounded.”
“I think that if we had waited even a few more moments, we would have lost him; his blood pressure had plummeted, he suddenly lost consciousness, and there was blood everywhere,” he said.
Machchhar is in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised him.
“Captain Machchhar is a hero. In the face of immense danger, and despite being seriously injured, he demonstrated tremendous courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others. His bravery helped save hundreds of lives and prevent a major disaster. India is proud of Captain Machchhar. Praying for his speedy recovery.”
Machchhar enrolled in flight school in New Zealand at age 19 after training in the textile business. His former instructor Philip Kean described him to CNN as “a jovial young man” who “tried hard.”
Machchhar had previously been praised for safely finding an airfield after a pregnant passenger who was not yet at term delivered a baby aboard a plane.
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