Herzog invites Captain Smit Machchhar, Indian pilot who helped subdue flydubai hijacker, to Israel

President Isaac Herzog invited Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a flydubai flight that faced a hijacking attempt, to visit Israel. In a letter, Herzog praised Machchhar's bravery and judgment after being attacked by his copilot, and connected his actions to Indian soldiers who fought in Israel over 100 years ago.

President Isaac Herzog invited Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of a flydubai flight that recently faced a hijacking attempt, to visit Israel in a letter on Saturday. Herzog praised Machchhar's judgment and bravery after being attacked by his copilot, writing, "I look forward, once you have regained strength, to welcoming you to Jerusalem and expressing the appreciation and the love of our grateful nation." Herzog connected Machchhar's actions with Indian soldiers who fought in Israel over 100 years ago. During a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Machchhar described his efforts to open the cockpit door after the attack, saying he "gave everything that I had." Machchhar also expressed interest in meeting the Israeli dentist who saved his life onboard the aircraft.