Netanyahu invites captain Smit Machchhar and PM Modi to Israel after pilot recounts cockpit attack

New Delhi: The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, spoke with Flydubai Indian captain Smit Machchhar praising his courage during the attack inside the cockpit and inviting him and prime minister, Narendra Modi, to Israel on Independence Day. Netanyahu said he was “frankly amazed” by Machchhar’s courage and judgement during the incident.

In a video released by Israel PM office on YouTube, Machchhar told Netanyahu that the flight had started normally and that his co-pilot had said he wanted to pray. He said it was not unusual and that he initially had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.

Around four to five minutes later, Machchhar felt a heavy blow to the back of his head. He said his first thought was that there had been “catastrophic damage to the aircraft” and that something was seriously wrong with the plane.

When the blows continued, he realized that the other person inside the cockpit was attacking him. Machchhar tried to stop him, but the injuries left his vision blurred and made it difficult for him to understand what was happening.The captain said his memories of the incident are still “in bits and pieces”. One of the clearest moments he recalled was the aircraft going sharply down, followed by the sound of air rushing around the aircraft and passengers screaming.

Machchhar said he tried to open the cockpit door once, but the attacker managed to shut it again. He then remembered lying on the floor as the aircraft continued its descent and realized that he had to make another attempt to get back inside the cockpit.

He told Netanyahu that he felt he had reached a point where he had no choice but to act. “I gave everything that I had,” Machchhar said, explaining that he believed he would die if he did not make another attempt.

The captain eventually managed to open the cockpit door. He recalled people waiting outside and said he pushed himself to act despite his injuries, allowing the situation to be brought under control.

Netanyahu told Machchhar that his actions had shown extraordinary courage. “Frankly, I’m amazed at your courage”. You were exceedingly brave,” he said.

Netanyahu described the incident as a “twist of fate” and a “twist of faith”. He also passed on his wife’s best regards to Machchhar’s wife and family and wished the captain a speedy recovery.

The Israeli prime minister then invited Machchhar and Modi to Israel for Independence Day. He said he wanted the Indian captain and the prime minister to participate in the celebrations, adding another personal dimension to the conversation following Machchhar’s ordeal.