/images/ppid_59c68470-image-179267752175728719.webp)
What is the story about?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inviting him to join the Indian commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar in lighting the ceremonial torch during Israel's upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
Posting on social media platform X in Hindi, PM Netanyahu said he spoke with the Indian Prime Minister to personally invite both him and Captain Machchhar, the pilot lauded in Israel for thwarting a mid-air hijacking attempt.
"I spoke with my friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and invited him to light the torch alongside the brave Indian pilot on Israel’s Independence Day," Netanyahu wrote. "Modi thanked me for the invitation and noted that on the ground and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together. He also appreciated the strong and long-standing ties between our nations."
Captain Machchhar, during a September 30 flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, suffered serious injuries while resisting his co-pilot’s alleged attempt to hijack the aircraft. Despite his injuries, he succeeded in opening the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to overpower the co-pilot before safely diverting the plane to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. All passengers subsequently reached Israel safely.
The gesture from the Israeli Prime Minister follows an earlier announcement by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who invited Captain Machchhar to Jerusalem to confer upon him the State of Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism—a distinction rarely granted to non-Israeli nationals. In an official letter sent to the pilot while he was recuperating in the hospital, Herzog praised his exceptional composure and valour, linking his courage to the historic legacy of Indian troops who fought at Haifa over a century ago.
Posting on social media platform X in Hindi, PM Netanyahu said he spoke with the Indian Prime Minister to personally invite both him and Captain Machchhar, the pilot lauded in Israel for thwarting a mid-air hijacking attempt.
"I spoke with my friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, and invited him to light the torch alongside the brave Indian pilot on Israel’s Independence Day," Netanyahu wrote. "Modi thanked me for the invitation and noted that on the ground and in the air, India and Israel are fighting terrorism together. He also appreciated the strong and long-standing ties between our nations."
मैंने
अपने मित्र, भारत के प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी से बात की और उन्हें इज़राइल के स्वतंत्रता दिवस पर वीर भारतीय पायलट के साथ मशाल प्रज्वलित करने के लिए आमंत्रित किया।
मोदी ने निमंत्रण के लिए मुझे धन्यवाद दिया और कहा कि ज़मीन पर और हवा में, भारत और इज़राइल आतंकवाद के ख़िलाफ़ मिलकर लड़ रहे हैं। उन्होंने हमारे बीच के मज़बूत और वर्षों पुराने संबंधों की भी सराहना की। ????????????????
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 22, 2026
Captain Machchhar, during a September 30 flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 passengers and six crew members, suffered serious injuries while resisting his co-pilot’s alleged attempt to hijack the aircraft. Despite his injuries, he succeeded in opening the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to overpower the co-pilot before safely diverting the plane to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. All passengers subsequently reached Israel safely.
The gesture from the Israeli Prime Minister follows an earlier announcement by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who invited Captain Machchhar to Jerusalem to confer upon him the State of Israel’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism—a distinction rarely granted to non-Israeli nationals. In an official letter sent to the pilot while he was recuperating in the hospital, Herzog praised his exceptional composure and valour, linking his courage to the historic legacy of Indian troops who fought at Haifa over a century ago.
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-179259502874030723.webp)
