Flydubai pilot...the first comment by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

- The pilot, Smit Machhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed while contributing to thwarting an attempt - which appears to have been aimed at hijacking - a Flydubai plane, is celebrated in India as a hero. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter): “Captain Smit Machhar is a hero. He showed extreme courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others, in the face of imminent danger and despite being seriously injured,” and added: “India is proud of Captain Machhar.”

Prominent media outlets also praised his courage; إذ كتبت صحيفة "تايمز أوف إنديا": "الطيار القادم من مومباي يثبت أنه بطل"، بينما ذكرت شبكة إنديا توداي: "الإشادة بطيار هندي بعد إحباط هجوم مزعوم داخل قمرة القيادة على متن رحلة لشركة فلاي دبي". وقال مذيع في قناة "سي إن إن نيوز-18" خلال برنامجه الرئيسي: "أيها المشاهدون، إذا عاد 166 إسرائيلياً إلى ديارهم الليلة دون أن يصابوا بأي أذى، فالفضل في ذلك يعود بالكامل إلى شجاعة هندي واحد، هو الكابتن سميت ماتشهار"، فيما عبّر العديد من الهنود أيضاً عن فخرهم عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously praised the pilot, “Machar,” describing him as a “true hero,” noting that he showed “exceptional courage” and saved the lives of 174 people on board the plane. Netanyahu said in a blog post on the “X” platform: “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he resisted and opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to control the attacker, thus preventing a horrific air disaster.”

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh stated that the "brave Indian pilot" was transferred to a hospital in the city of Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, where he is receiving medical care. A statement from the embassy on the X platform said: “We are awaiting a detailed report on his health condition, but reports indicate that his condition is stable.

We hope that he will recover from his injuries as soon as possible.”