Netanyahu Hails Indian Flydubai Pilot as 'True Hero' After Hijacking Attempt

New details have emerged regarding the critical actions of the Indian captain of Flydubai flight FZ1073 during an attempted hijacking on Wednesday between Dubai and Tel Aviv. Despite being severely wounded by his Omani co-pilot, Captain Smit Machare managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing, allowing Israeli passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker. According to Doron Spielman, spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu, the blood-covered pilot "gathered his last strength" to activate the door mechanism. This allowed several passengers, realizing a serious incident was unfolding, to enter the cockpit. They found the captain injured while the co-pilot was tampering with the controls. After the assailant was apprehended, two other Flydubai pilots traveling as passengers took control of the aircraft. They stabilized the Boeing 737 MAX, which had suddenly lost several thousand meters of altitude, and executed an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Indian pilot, calling him a "true hero" and crediting his actions with saving the lives of the 174 people on board. He also wished the pilot a speedy recovery. The injured pilot was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and is reported to be in stable condition by Indian authorities. Both the pilot and co-pilot were taken to the hospital after the plane's arrival in Tabuk, according to airport officials. The passengers have since returned to Israel on a replacement aircraft sent by Flydubai, landing at Ben Gurion Airport in the evening.