Netanyahu hails Indian pilot's

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for “unbelievable courage” after Machchhar was seriously injured during an attempted mid-air attack aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, and said the actions of the crew and passengers helped prevent what could have been “another 9/11.” In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu described how Machchhar, despite heavy bleeding, managed to unlock the cockpit door as the aircraft entered a nosedive, allowing others to intervene. Netanyahu said Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun rushed from row 16 to the cockpit when the plane momentarily stabilized; he entered and grabbed the attacker, who was allegedly trying to jam the instruments. Reserve crew later helped stabilize the aircraft. Netanyahu also tied the episode to personal resonance for his family’s history with hijacking and hostage rescue, and noted Machchhar’s role alongside others in stopping a disaster.