In a phone call on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the courage of Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and invited him to light a ceremonial flame on Israeli Independence Day.
Machchhar described the incident to Netanyahu, saying he was repeatedly struck in the cockpit by his co-pilot but somehow managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to regain control of the aircraft.
Before the attack, the co-pilot said he wanted to pray. Out of respect, Machchhar turned away, he said.
A few minutes later, Machchhar said he felt a blow to the back of his head, after which the blows continued.
Netanyahu told him he was amazed by his courage and his ability to remain calm under impossible circumstances.
“You saved so many souls ... You saved the spirit of the world,” he said.
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“I want to have Captain Smit and Prime Minister Modi, our great friend. I really would like them to bear a celebratory flame. It's our highest honour that we give on our Independence Day. It's usually reserved for Israeli citizens. But I think here, in this case, all the citizens of Israel will embrace you,” Netanyahu told Smit over the phone.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister told Reuters on Thursday that Machchhar was covered in blood and lying on the floor when he managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enabled a second pair of flydubai pilots on board to take control of the jet and land it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a steep descent during which the aircraft lost more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Aviation experts have said it was remarkable that the aircraft did not crash.
flydubai has said crew members travelling on the plane helped stabilise the aircraft and land it safely. They have not been publicly identified.
Both the captain and the co-pilot were later taken to the UAE. The passengers, most of whom were Israeli, flew home later on Wednesday on a separate plane, where they were greeted with cheers.
(With agency inputs from PTI & Reuters)
