Israel's Leader Praises Pilot Who Saved 174 People on a Flight

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Indian Captain Smit Machchhar for 'extraordinary bravery' on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30, 2026. Netanyahu said Machchhar was stabbed and badly hurt but opened the locked door to where pilots sit, so passengers and crew could stop the attacker and save 174 people.