Israel invites Indian Flydubai pilot who thwarted cockpit attack to visit as guest of honor

Diplomatic invitation from Israeli leadership

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Indian commercial pilot Smit Machchhar to visit Israel as an official guest of honor on Saturday, 3 October 2026. The invitation followed a recorded telephone conversation between the prime minister and Machchhar, which was made public by the Israeli government. Machchhar is recovering from physical injuries sustained during the incident and is currently receiving medical care in the United Arab Emirates. During the call, Netanyahu proposed that Machchhar travel to Israel in May 2027 to participate in the nation's independence declaration commemorations. Netanyahu expressed a desire for Machchhar to light a ceremonial flame alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom Netanyahu identified as one of Israel's primary international partners. The lighting of the Independence Day flame is a ceremonial distinction typically reserved for Israeli nationals.

You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and a hero for the entire world.

Thwarted assault on Flydubai flight

The conversation centered on an in-flight security incident that took place on Wednesday on board a Flydubai passenger plane flying toward Tel Aviv. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates conducted an investigation into the assault and formally classified the event as a terrorist act. The attacker was the flight's co-pilot, identified as an Omani national. According to the investigation, the co-pilot intended to force the passenger aircraft into a crash near the city of Tel Aviv. To incapacitate the captain and seize control, the co-pilot grabbed an emergency crash axe stored within the cockpit and used it as a weapon against Machchhar.

Pilot testimony on the cockpit struggle

Machchhar described the sequence of the attack in detail during the phone call released by the prime minister's office. The captain explained that the co-pilot had initially asked for a brief period of time to conduct Islamic prayers, a request Machchhar noted is common among flight personnel from the region. Out of professional respect, Machchhar kept his eyes facing forward at the cockpit controls while the co-pilot prayed. Approximately four to five minutes later, Machchhar was struck with force on the back of his head without prior warning. Machchhar recalled that his initial assessment was that the aircraft had suffered catastrophic physical failure. The captain soon recognized an intentional physical assault as additional strikes followed in rapid succession.

My first thought was that the plane had suffered catastrophic damages, but then the blows kept coming, and that was the moment I realized it was not the plane.

Cockpit breach and hospital recovery

Machchhar noted that while some details of the struggle remained unclear due to his head trauma, he remembered that the co-pilot had attempted to lock the flight deck entrance. Recognizing the danger to the flight, Machchhar summoned all his remaining physical energy to reach the exit mechanism before he could be fully subdued. The captain successfully forced open the cockpit door, allowing individuals stationed outside in the cabin to intervene and assist him. Machchhar remains under observation in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates as he continues treatment for his wounds. The Israeli government has maintained contact with Machchhar as plans proceed for his potential ceremonial visit to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem next spring.