Netanyahu Invites Indian Pilot Who Thwarted Hijacking to Light Independence Day Torch
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu invited the Indian pilot to light an Independence Day torch.
- The pilot thwarted an attempt to crash the Flydubai flight.
- The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe.
- Passengers, including an Israeli, helped subdue the co-pilot.
- The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Saturday evening with Captain Smith Macher, the Indian pilot of a Flydubai flight during which an attempt to crash the plane was thwarted. During the conversation, Netanyahu invited Macher to light a torch at Israel's Independence Day ceremony, calling him a "hero for Israel, India, and the entire world."
Macher revealed new details about the intense moments in the cockpit during his call with the Prime Minister. He described struggling with the Omani co-pilot, Haitham Al-Hammami, who allegedly attacked him with an emergency axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft's controls. The suspect then put the plane into a rapid dive, until Macher, along with several passengers, including Israeli Yeniv Hayoun, managed to overpower him and stabilize the aircraft.
The flight ultimately landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Earlier, on Friday, Netanyahu stated that the suspect "came to crash the plane with all the passengers on board" and vowed that his handlers would pay a heavy price if they were involved.
Read the original at JDNMentioned
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