Israeli PM invited PM Narendra Modi and Indian pilot Smit Machchhar to light a torch on Israel’s Independence Day
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a ceremonial torch alongside Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar at Israel’s Independence Day celebrations, honouring the captain for his role in preventing a terror attack aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flydubai flight.
Machchhar, a flydubai captain from Gujarat, was seriously injured when his Omani co-pilot attacked him inside the cockpit in late September. Despite his injuries and the aircraft’s rapid descent, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene and restrain the attacker. The plane subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
In a post on X on Thursday, Netanyahu said he had spoken to PM Modi and invited him to participate in the torch-lighting ceremony with the Indian pilot.
“Modi thanked me for the invitation and said that on land and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together. He also commended the strong and decades-old ties between us,” Netanyahu wrote on X, also sharing a photograph of the two leaders embracing.
The Prime Minister’s Office also confirmed the call, stating that the leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia and underscored the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region. However, it did not mention Netanyahu’s invitation to PM Modi.
The torch-lighting ceremony is a prominent feature of Israel’s Independence Day celebrations. The honour is traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens, making Netanyahu’s invitation to an Indian pilot a notable gesture of recognition.
