Abu Dhabi

UAE Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan bin Mohammed met Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital and expressed "appreciation and praise" for his heroic actions during a mid-air attack on the Tel Aviv-bound flight on September 30. Israel announced to invite Capt Machahhar to its Independence Day celebrations.

The 38-year old Indian pilot displayed extraordinary courage and helped save lives after being attacked by his Omani co-pilot aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv during the September 30 terrorist attack.

Also, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also spoke with Machahhar and called him "a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel" and "a hero of the entire world". He invited Machchhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame on Israel's next Independence Day.

The UAE Deputy PM hailed the Indian pilot for his bravery, while highlighting the responsibility and care showcased by him during the attempted crash. 

The Minister who is crown Prince of Dubai hugged Machchhar, and expressed pride in Captain Machchhar being part of the "story of our nation."

"During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life. From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise. We are proud that he is part of our team… part of the story of our nation… and part of what the UAE stands for… a nation of compassion… a nation of peace… and a nation of life," he wrote in a post on X.

During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.

From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise.

We are proud that he is part of our… pic.twitter.com/QgpQxdcK5C

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) October 3, 2026

During the conversation, Netanyahu invited Captain Machchhar and his "dear friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a celebratory flame on Israel's next Independence Day, calling the Indian pilot "a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel" and "a hero of the entire world".

"I want to invite you and my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to light a celebratory flame on our next Independence Day. You are a true hero of the brave peoples of India and Israel, and you're a hero of the entire world. I wish you a very speedy and complete recovery," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during their telephonic conversation.

Captain Machchhar, recounting what happened inside the cockpit, said the flight was proceeding normally when the co-pilot, who wanted to pray, suddenly attacked him.

During a visit to Captain Smit Machchhar… the flydubai pilot who embodied the highest degrees of courage, responsibility, and care for human life.

From us, and from the leadership of the nation, he has our full appreciation and praise.

We are proud that he is part of our… pic.twitter.com/QgpQxdcK5C

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) October 3, 2026

The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 180 occupants disembarking without injury.

Reacting to Captain Machchhar's account, Netanyahu said he was "amazed" by the pilot's conduct during the incident.

"Frankly, I'm amazed at your courage, at your coolness of judgement under impossible conditions," Netanyahu said.

In India, several Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Salman Khan have hailed Machchhar as a real hero.

Captain Smit Machchhar, you stood strong when it mattered the most!! It’s not easy to stare adversity in the face and put one’s safety on the line… but you did just that to protect those onboard and showed us what being a Captain entails. A true display of courage and duty.…

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 3, 2026

Meanwhile, the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a flydubai flight has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami. He had previously undergone pilot training with Oman Air but was moved to desk duties after government surveillance detected visits to radical websites before later joining Flydubai without formal vetting by the Omani government, CBS News reported, citing sources.

Surveillance conducted by the Omani government revealed that the suspect browsed radical websites during his initial pilot training phase, which prompted Oman Air to shift him away from active flying duties and place him into an office position.

According to one of the sources who spoke to CBS News, the pilot resigned from his role at Oman Air following the transfer to desk duty, departing the carrier around 2024.

Al Arabiya English, citing sources, reported on Friday that al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views that were allegedly influenced by an earlier stay in Syria.

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Sources further noted that at one juncture, al-Hammami shared a video featuring El Al Israeli Airlines aircraft in Dubai, concluding the clip with a photograph of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the prominent al-Qaeda leader eliminated in a US drone strike in 2022.