New Delhi, October 4 (Udaipur Kiran) : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached out to Indian pilot Smrit Machhar on Saturday night, extending an invitation to him to participate in Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. According to the Prime Minister’s office, Netanyahu expressed a desire for Captain Machhar to light a torch during the festivities.
During their conversation, Netanyahu emphasized, “I would like Captain Smrit and PM Modi to hold the flame of our Independence Day. It is our greatest honor. We usually reserve this for Israeli citizens, but in this case, all Israeli citizens will embrace you.”
Machhar, who is currently based in Dubai, recently averted a major disaster while flying a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. After being attacked by his co-pilot in the cockpit, he managed to open the cockpit door despite sustaining serious injuries, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and ultimately save lives.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, visited Machhar in the hospital to commend his bravery. Following their meeting, he shared on social media platform ‘X’, “Met Captain Smrit Machhar. This pilot from Flydubai has set a supreme example of courage and responsibility. He has our full respect and admiration from our side and the country’s leadership. We are proud to have him as part of our team.”
The Indian embassy in the UAE has reported that Captain Machhar’s condition is improving, and they are in touch with his family and local authorities to provide all possible support for his treatment and swift recovery.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.