Israel Publishes Photo of Flydubai Pilot Sameet Mathar and This is What They Said

The Israeli Foreign Ministry published the first photo of Indian pilot, Smit Machhar, who resisted an attack on board Fly Dubai flight heading to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, describing him as a "hero." The photo was shared by the Israeli Foreign Ministry on its page on the X platform (formerly Twitter) with the caption: "This man is a hero..

Captain Smit Machhar - the Indian pilot of Fly Dubai flight 1073 - fought off the assailant after being stabbed inside the cockpit." It continued: "Despite his severe injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers and the Emirati crew to intervene and save all the passengers..

Their extraordinary bravery together saved the lives of 174 people.. We wish Captain Machhar a full and speedy recovery."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Afaq News on Wednesday that the pilot who resisted - on board a Fly Dubai flight that was diverted - after it appeared that another pilot in the cockpit attempted to crash the plane "succeeded in preventing a disaster similar to the September 11, 2001 attacks," referring to the attacks on the United States after elements of Al-Qaeda targeted the World Trade Center towers. Netanyahu added: "This is what seems to have been happening regarding the specific motives behind this matter," and he mentioned that he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump "about this amazing heroic act that prevented a disaster; it would not have been a disaster for Israel alone, but you can imagine how it could have affected the global aviation sector."