Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu honors flydubai pilot who opened cockpit door after attack
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Indian flydubai pilot Smitt Matsar to Israel as an honored guest after he opened the cockpit door during a mid-flight assault.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an invitation to Smitt Matsar, the Indian pilot of a flydubai aircraft headed for Tel Aviv, to visit Israel as an honored guest. During a flight on Wednesday, Matsar was attacked by the co-pilot but succeeded in opening the cockpit door, enabling passengers to restrain the attacker while the plane experienced a sudden loss of altitude. He sustained serious injuries and is now under medical care in the United Arab Emirates.
Netanyahu highlighted Matsar's bravery in a video released by his office, showing a phone conversation with the flight's commander. International officials have lauded Matsar's quick response as averting a potential catastrophe.
Why it matters
The pilot's actions averted a possible aviation disaster and earned international recognition for bravery.
How this story developed
- Sep 30 Netanyahu hails Indian pilot who thwarted alleged flydubai sabotage
- Oct 1 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the second pilot who stabbed the captain on a Fly Dubai flight had undergone Islamist radicalisation.
- Oct 1 El Al, Israir and Arkia have asked Israeli security officials to allow them to resume scheduled flights to Dubai following a violent incident on a flydubai plane.
- Oct 1 The Saudi interior ministry said its initial probe indicates the co-pilot on the Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight assaulted the captain.
- Oct 2 The suspect was transferred to United Arab Emirates authorities.
- Oct 2 A UAE official called the mid-air incident on flydubai flight FZ1073 a terrorist act and praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for safely landing the aircraft after a co-pilot attack.
- Oct 2 Modi praised Machchhar for averting disaster.
- Oct 2 Israeli carriers have formally requested clearance to restart Dubai routes.
- Oct 3 Co‑pilot identified as Hamam al Hamami, an Omani national previously barred by Oman over extremist concerns.
- Oct 3 UAE prosecutors have classified the March incident on Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv as a terrorist attack after a co-pilot used an emergency axe against the pilot.
- Oct 3 The weapon used in the attack was identified as a small axe.
- Oct 3 The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
- Oct 3 Specialised investigators are analysing physical and digital evidence to determine the co‑pilot's motives and identify any potential ties to external extremist organisations.
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