Flydubai pilot attacked With axe: Netanyahu invites pilot to Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel as a guest of honor. This invitation follows an incident where Machchhar reportedly defended himself against an axe-wielding co-pilot inside a flydubai cockpit.
Why it matters
The gesture highlights strengthening diplomatic ties between India and Israel through a high-profile public recognition of an individual's actions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel as a guest of honour after he fought back against a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attacked him with an axe inside the cockpit. Netanyahu praised Machchhar as a hero of India and Israel and invited him, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to light a flame at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony next May.
Published - October 04, 2026 02:06 pm IST
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