From Israel to India: Israelis express gratitude to the pilot who prevented the disaster on the terror flight

Indian pilot Captain Smith Macher, who prevented a disaster on a Flydubai flight and was seriously injured, has become a hero in Israel and is receiving widespread support, including a crowdfunding campaign that raised about $20,000 in 24 hours, billboards, and touching gestures. Alongside the mobilization, warnings about online scams have been published.

Indian pilot Captain Smith Macher, who prevented a major disaster on Flydubai flight FZ 1073 last week and was seriously injured, has become an international hero and is receiving an enormous wave of support from the Israeli public. Macher, still hospitalized, is surrounded by touching gestures including billboards, dedications at live performances, and thousands of social media posts. The Israeli embassy in Mumbai hung an official appreciation sign in his honor. Meanwhile, a donation campaign was launched that raised about $20,000 within 24 hours. The initiative's organizers, including social media influencer Gabriel Einhorn and Tal Aloni, plan to fly to meet the pilot and present him with the check. Alongside the mobilization, warnings about online scams were published after fake accounts and AI-generated images were identified. The pilot's medical expenses are fully covered by the airline and insurance. In a conversation with the Indian Prime Minister, Macher recounted his survival struggle: "I was in that moment, sir, fighting... fighting for my life. I just opened it, sir, and everyone else came in. And everyone had an important role."