Foreign Minister Gideon Saar sent a message Thursday to Captain Samit Machchar, the Indian pilot who was attacked and wounded by his Omani co-pilot during a Fly Dubai flight to Israel. In his remarks, Saar thanked him for his heroism and wished him a speedy recovery.
Fly Dubai attack
Saar thanks Indian pilot for heroism
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar sent a message to Captain Samit Machchar, who was stabbed by his Omani co-pilot mid-flight but managed to unlock the cockpit door and save the aircraft and its passengers
"First of all, we are grateful for the courage and heroism of the captain," Saar said in an interview with Indian television network NDTV. "By managing to open the cockpit door after being stabbed, he saved the flight and the passengers' lives. There was also additional heroism from the Israeli passengers, who overpowered the co-pilot who attacked the captain. This is heroism upon heroism."
"Statistically, it was almost impossible to emerge from such a difficult situation," he added. "But Samit and the brave Israeli citizens saved the flight and the passengers."
Concluding his remarks, Saar addressed Samit directly with a personal message: "I wish you a speedy and full recovery. We hope that your medical condition will stabilize soon."
Saar on the Indian pilot| צילום: Photo: Foreign Ministry spokesperson
