Narendra Modi says flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar has "immense courage and unwavering resolve"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken by telephone with Captain Smit Machchhar, the flydubai pilot who was badly hurt while resisting an alleged attempt to seize control of a flight bound for Israel. Machchhar has said his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit; he described repeated blows, impaired vision, and a final effort to open the cockpit door before others took control. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Machchhar and Modi to light a flame at Israel’s next Independence Day ceremony and praised the pilot as a hero. Modi had earlier credited Machchhar with protecting lives despite serious injuries, and his call followed that public statement. The incident has drawn attention because Machchhar’s actions are credited with helping prevent the aircraft from going down.