Israel to honour Captain Smit for his valour during flydubai attack: Israeli envoy
Israel will honour Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during the attack aboard a nearly doomed flydubai flight, Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar said on Thursday, calling the Indian pilot a “great hero” for helping save the lives of passengers despite being seriously injured.
“He indeed is a great hero. And India and Israel are great partners in the war. We will find a way to recognise him,” Azar said in an exclusive conversation with India Today.
The ambassador also said the pilot’s actions had resonated across Israel, with people, as well as the country’s leadership, taking note of his courage. “Israel does not forget its friends, those who are with Israel in times of crisis,” Azar said.
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar was at the controls of the Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight when he was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot inside the cockpit. The aircraft, carrying 174 people, went into a steep descent as the attack unfolded, leaving passengers and crew scrambling to prevent a catastrophe.
An Israeli passenger, Yaniv Hayun, and another passenger managed to enter the cockpit and pull the co-pilot away from the controls. Hayun later told India Today that Machchhar was lying injured on the cockpit floor while the co-pilot appeared to be interfering with the aircraft’s systems.
As passengers restrained the attacker, the Indian pilot, despite his injuries, was able to play a crucial role in the effort to regain control of the aircraft. Two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers eventually took over the controls and helped stabilise the flight.
The aircraft was then diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was taken to hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.- Ends
An alumnus of the St Stephen's College, Delhi University Gaurav C Sawant is Senior Executive Editor, India Today TV. Gaurav joined The Indian Express as a Trainee in 1994 and covered the Kargil conflict in 1999. He has authored a book: Dateline Kargil: A Correspondent's nine Week account from the BattleFront published by Macmillan. Gaurav has also written on the valour of the Param Vir Chakra awardees as part of he Veer Gatha series. Gaurav has been a part of the India Today Group since 2008. He has covered conflict in Iraq, Libya and Egypt and UN operations in Sierra Leone and Lebanon.
In December 2007 Gaurav was awarded `Wings'by the Indian Navy and has done 5 para jumps at INS DEGA at Vishakhapatanam. He has also done one assisted free fall and one tandem jump with the Indian Navy. Gaurav recently became the first journalist to reach Daulat Begh Oldie (DBO) in midst of the India China stand-off and reported on the 255 km long DS-DBO strategic road. Gaurav anchors India First weeknights 10 pm on India Today and Desh Ka Gaurav weeknights 8 pm on Tez.
