Stories
Netanyahu Invites Captain Machchhar & PM Modi to Israel's Independence Day After Mid-Air Heroics
- •Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu invited Captain Smit Machchhar and PM Narendra Modi to Israel's Independence Day celebrations after Machchhar's heroic actions on a Flydubai flight.
- •Captain Machchhar recounted being attacked in the cockpit after his co-pilot requested to pray, suffering a severe blow to the head and disorienting him.
- •Despite repeated strikes and blurred vision, Machchhar, while on the cockpit floor, realized opening the door was the only way to avert disaster and lunged for the exit.
- •Machchhar clarified to Netanyahu that the cockpit door, while secure from the outside, opens from the inside with a standard manual turn-knob, allowing him to unlock it.
- •Netanyahu praised Machchhar as a hero, stating his bravery saved over 170 lives and inspired the world, extending a rare invitation for him and PM Modi to light a celebratory flame.
Key Questions Answered
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel to honor his extraordinary composure and bravery during a high-stakes mid-air emergency aboard a Flydubai flight. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door and help avert disaster, saving over 170 lives from an attack.
Despite being severely disoriented and under physical attack on the cockpit floor, Captain Machchhar gathered his remaining strength to reach the manual turn-knob on the interior of the door. By giving it a short, quick twist, he unlocked the door, allowing waiting crew members and passengers to breach the flight deck and subdue the attacker.
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Netanyahu invited both Captain Smit Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to jointly light a celebratory flame during Israel’s Independence Day ceremonies. While this honor is usually reserved exclusively for Israeli citizens, Netanyahu stated that Israel embraces Machchhar as part of their family.
