Last Updated: October 4, 2026
Last Updated: October 4, 2026
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has invited FlyDubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame at Israel’s next Independence Day ceremony, calling the Indian pilot a “true hero” of India, Israel and the entire world.
Netanyahu extended the invitation during a telephone conversation with Captain Smit Machchhar on Sunday, during which the pilot explained how the mid-air attack unfolded inside the cockpit.
Netanyahu praises Captain Smit Machchhar’s courage
“I want to invite you and my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to light a celebratory flame on our next Independence Day. You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and you’re a hero of the entire world,” Netanyahu told the Captain.
The Israeli Prime Minister also wished Machchhar a speedy and complete recovery.
Netanyahu said the honour of lighting the Independence Day flame is usually reserved for Israeli citizens, but expressed his belief that Israelis would warmly embrace the Indian pilot.
“It’s our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It’s usually reserved for Israeli citizens. But I think here in this case, all the citizens of Israel will embrace you. They do now and they will then too,” he said.
Israeli PM calls pilot’s actions remarkable
Netanyahu said he was amazed by Captain Machchhar’s courage and his ability to remain calm and make decisions under extremely difficult circumstances.
“I’m amazed at your courage, at your coolness of judgment under impossible conditions,” Netanyahu said, describing the pilot’s actions as remarkable and bordering on the miraculous.
He said the pilot had saved more than just the lives of the people on board the aircraft.
“You saved so many souls. I think you saved something bigger. You saved the spirit of the world to realise that a brave pilot and brave passengers can overcome this evil, however threatening, however violent,” Netanyahu said.
Calling Machchhar a hero of Israel, India and the world, Netanyahu said his actions were being rightly recognised globally.
Netanyahu invites Captain Smit Machchhar to Israel
Netanyahu also conveyed his family’s best wishes to the pilot’s family and asked him to recover soon.
He again invited Machchhar to visit Israel, saying the upcoming visit would be memorable and historic.
“We hope to see you very soon in Israel. I look forward to seeing you here again. But under the circumstances, I think this will be a memorable and historic visit,” Netanyahu said.
“Thank you for everything you did,” the Israeli Prime Minister told the pilot.
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