Netanyahu and Modi Praise Indian Flydubai Pilot After Emergency

In October 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indian Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar after an emergency on flight FZ1073 to Tel Aviv. Netanyahu called Machchhar a "true hero" and said another "9/11" was averted, and Modi also praised his courage. An Israeli envoy said fighter jets were called immediately after the emergency. Netanyahu also claimed the Flydubai co-pilot underwent "radical indoctrination".